Guinea and Sierra Leone make roaming free between the two countries 🇬🇳📶🇸🇱

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Guinea and Sierra Leone have taken a major step toward regional digital integration by signing a new agreement to end roaming charges between the two countries.

The protocol, signed on November 10, 2025, in Conakry during the Transform Africa Summit and the 15th session of the African Regulators Council (CAR-15), will allow citizens to make calls, send texts, and use mobile data across both countries without paying extra roaming fees.

A boost for regional integration and digital inclusion 🌍

Backed by the Smart Africa Alliance, the deal marks a significant milestone in West Africa’s push toward seamless regional connectivity. It aims to align with the continent’s broader digital transformation agenda by making cross-border communication more affordable and accessible.

Beyond removing roaming charges, the agreement also sets up technical coordination between telecom operators to harmonize interconnection rates and improve service quality along shared borders.

This move responds to the growing demand for affordable connectivity, particularly among cross-border workers, traders, and frequent travelers. It’s also the second major telecom partnership between Guinea and Sierra Leone in less than a year. In November 2024, the two nations signed a framework agreement to interconnect their national internet backbones — a step that strengthened infrastructure resilience and digital exchange. This new deal builds on that momentum, deepening a partnership already in motion.

A growing regional trend 🚀

Guinea and Sierra Leone are far from alone. Across West Africa, countries like Ghana, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Liberia have all struck similar roaming-free agreements in recent months. The goal is clear: break down communication barriers, foster digital mobility, and accelerate economic integration.

For Guinea and Sierra Leone, implementing the deal will require final technical coordination between operators — particularly around interconnection management, cost-sharing, and quality standards.

Once active, the new system is expected to lower communication costs, boost cross-border digital transactions, and support regional trade.

Ultimately, the Guinea–Sierra Leone roaming pact underscores Africa’s growing commitment to digital cooperation. By tearing down price barriers, the two nations are paving the way for freer movement of information, people, and opportunities across borders.

👉🏾 Do you think free roaming could truly accelerate Africa’s digital and economic integration?