Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia Just Made Cross-Border Calls Free 🇨🇮 📶 🇱🇷

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On August 6, in Monrovia, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and Côte d’Ivoire’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARTCI) signed a landmark agreement to eliminate roaming charges between the two countries. This means subscribers can now cross the shared border and communicate without paying extra fees. The move is part of a broader ECOWAS initiative already embraced by Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Ghana, and Togo.

A practical win for users 📱

In concrete terms, travelers can keep their usual phone numbers and SIM cards while enjoying local rates for calls, SMS, and mobile data. Incoming calls will be completely free for the first 30 days of their stay, and a simple activation of “data roaming” is all it takes to access the service. No extra paperwork, no hidden hurdles — just seamless connectivity.

For Clarence K. Massaquoi, LTA’s chairperson, this goes far beyond a technical upgrade. It addresses a social and cultural reality: the two nations share not only a border but deep family, trade, and agricultural ties. Removing this price barrier, he says, will strengthen daily interactions and bring communities even closer.

A step toward regional economic integration 🌍

Beyond consumer benefits, the agreement reflects both countries’ commitment to deeper economic integration in West Africa. Eliminating roaming fees fosters smoother trade, strengthens cross-border commerce, and encourages social cohesion.

This initiative could inspire other African nations. Similar talks are underway between Chad and Cameroon, as well as within the Alliance of Sahel States — which includes Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. By multiplying such partnerships, ECOWAS is moving closer to its goal of building an integrated economic space where digital connectivity flows as freely as people and goods.

In the end, the Côte d’Ivoire–Liberia agreement is a powerful example of how West Africa is leveraging technology to reinforce both human and economic ties. With cross-border communications now simpler and cheaper, the region is opening the door to more inclusive and sustainable connectivity.

 What do you think? 💬
Do you think this type of agreement should be extended to the whole of Africa? Let us know in the comments☺️