Sierra Leone prepares comms plan
GOVERNMENT
By BiztechAfrica - Jan. 11, 2012, 12:43 p.m.
A workshop for stakeholders is underway in Sierra Leon to discuss expectations management on the landing and operationalising of new fibre optic capacity in the country.
The workshop, attended by Sierra Leone Cable Limited (SALCAB) and the West Africa Regional Communication Infrastructure Program (WARCIP), was formally opened by the Deputy Minister of Information & Communications, Sheka Tarawalie, this week.
The 17 000km Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, which links 23 countries between France and South Africa, landed in Sierra Leone in October last year, but is not yet operational.
The Minister noted: “There remains a lot more to do before the cable becomes operational. It is therefore necessary to adequately inform the public as to what still has to be done and when they can start using it.
We are gathered here for a brain-storming session to prepare a Communications Strategy which will guide the Project Implementation Unit in disseminating information to the public. I am therefore encouraging you all to fully participate in it, because we all have a stake in it.”
In a bid to improve telecoms in the country, the government of Sierra Leone has also released a road map for the revision of telecoms laws and full liberalisation of the country's international telecom gateway.
MORE GOVERNMENT NEWS
Côte d’Ivoire adopts Bill on Electronic Transactions
The Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs of the National Assembly of the Côte d’Ivoire has adopted the new Bill on Electronic Transactions. Read MoreKenyan postal sector to be modernised
The Kenyan Government has challenged the country’s postal sector to use ICTs to meet new customer demands. Read MoreBritish PM praises AfDB for African infrastructure development
British Prime Minister David Cameron has praised the African Development Bank (AfDB) and President Donald Kaberuka for pioneering initiatives to scale the continent’s infrastructure development. Read MoreNCS roots for IT Ministry
Nigerian IT stakeholders say the country needs a dedicated IT Ministry to support the development of the IT industry. Read More20th EACO congress set for Kenya
The East African Communications Organisations (EACO) Congress and Exhibition is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, this month. Read MoreMinistry seeks young innovators
The Botswana Ministry of Transport and Communication has launched a competition that targets young innovators in the country. Read MoreIBM presents smart traffic plan to Lagos state
A team of IBM experts has presented recommendations to Nigeria's Lagos State Government to ensure that traffic flows more efficiently in the city of Lagos. Read MoreBurkina Faso looks to modernised borders
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has met officials in Burkina Faso for talks on modernised border controls. Read MoreUp to 28,000 jobs from new Maadi Technology Park
Egyptian authorities have inaugurated the next phase of the new technology park at Maadi, which is expected to create up to 28,000 direct and indirect jobs on completion. Read MoreBotswana studies ICT best practice in Sweden
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communication, Works, Transport and Technology is visiting Stockholm, Sweden, on a mission to improve e-Government. Read MoreRELATED STORIES
FEATURED STORY
Airtime transfer big business in Ivory CoastAirtime transferred direct to mobile is proving popular among consumers and is generating jobs in Ivory Coast.
BEST READ NEWS
IN DEPTH
Africa must think beyond blue collar jobsPan-African job creation initiatives need to look beyond basic job creation, to high level ICT skills development, to develop the economies, says Greg Vercellotti, executive director at Dariel Solutions.