By Amin Kef (Ranger)
A recent investigation by this medium has shed new light on the much-debated changes in data bundle plans introduced by Sierra Leone’s two leading telecommunications giants, Africell and Orange. Contrary to widespread public speculation that the companies have quietly increased tariffs, credible findings reveal that the move is purely promotional and not a reflection of any approved tariff adjustment.
Sources within the telecommunications sector confirmed that a genuine tariff change involves a complex regulatory process governed by what is known as the floor and ceiling price system. This mechanism sets the minimum (floor) and maximum (ceiling) limits within which all operators must operate. Any modification to those prices requires prior consultation and approval by the relevant regulatory authorities. The current adjustments made by Africell and Orange, however, fall outside that category. They are instead described as promotional packages; temporary offers designed to address pressing network challenges and enhance customer experience.
According to technical experts who spoke to this medium, the move was prompted by a critical network congestion problem caused by the overuse of the 1mbps data plan. It was discovered that more than 70 percent of subscribers were connected to this single data access point, leading to severe network slowdowns across the country. This situation created frustration among users, many of whom wrongly attributed the poor network quality to operator inefficiency.
In response, Africell and Orange opted for a strategic intervention; introducing new promotional bundles that redistribute user traffic more evenly across their systems. The redesigned packages give customers greater flexibility, such as the option to subscribe for five days instead of a full week at a cost of eighty Leones. A subscriber can still access the 1 mbps plan daily but now has alternative offers to reduce pressure on the overloaded channel. The ultimate goal, company insiders disclosed, is to enhance network efficiency and overall user satisfaction without increasing the cost of access.
Industry observers have compared the situation to a market vendor selling groundnuts using different cup sizes. Each cup represents a pricing option, the larger the cup, the more it contains and the smaller the cup, the less it holds. In this analogy, customers are simply being given a wider range of purchasing choices. The introduction of the 2 Mbps option, for example, provides higher data speed and reliability, especially for users with multiple devices connected simultaneously.
The investigation also revealed that while Africell and Orange have taken the lead in recalibrating their data promotions, Qcell still maintains its existing package structure, which has remained popular among a section of subscribers. This diversity in package options ensures that consumers retain freedom of choice within a competitive telecommunications market. Those who prefer the traditional model can continue with Qcell, while others seeking improved speed and service quality can explore the new promotional bundles from Africell and Orange.
Experts believe that the new approach will likely yield positive results. By redirecting subscribers across different data streams, the two companies expect a significant improvement in service delivery and network stability. It is also expected to reduce customer complaints about poor connectivity and slow internet speeds, issues that have plagued the industry for months.
While the public continues to assess the benefits of the new data offers, the broader lesson emerging from this episode is that consumers must understand the difference between a tariff adjustment and a promotional campaign. The former requires regulatory oversight and impacts national pricing structures, while the latter is a flexible marketing strategy designed to improve user experience and manage network resources efficiently.
Ultimately, Africell and Orange’s latest initiatives may represent a turning point for the telecommunications sector in Sierra Leone; a sector that continues to evolve amid growing digital demands, rapid smartphone penetration and an increasingly tech-savvy population. Whether viewed as innovation or adaptation, the companies’ promotional adjustments signal a commitment to balancing business efficiency with customer satisfaction in a market where connectivity is now a vital lifeline.
The Calabash Newspaper is Sierra Leone’s leading English‑language news platform—established in 2017 to deliver trusted coverage of politics, culture, health, and more to audiences both at home and abroad.
