Orange Sierra Leone

When Orange Sierra Leone launched its Kolat unlimited data bundle in May 2024, it quickly became the talk of the town. For just Le60, customers could browse, stream and download without worrying about limits. For many Sierra Leoneans, it was a breakthrough in affordable internet access; a taste of digital freedom.

But behind the excitement, a quiet storm was brewing inside the country’s largest mobile network. The same offer that won public admiration was silently straining the company’s finances and testing the limits of its network infrastructure.

Within months of launch, internet traffic on the Orange network skyrocketed by more than 80%. Data consumption shot up faster than anyone predicted. Yet, the revenue from those subscriptions did not follow the same trajectory. According to Orange Sierra Leone, data income grew at a rate five times slower than network traffic, creating a serious imbalance between use and profit.

The company explained that less than 3% of its subscribers were using the unlimited bundle but that small fraction consumed a disproportionately large share of bandwidth. Some users reportedly went as far as using multiple Kolat subscriptions, guzzling up to one terabyte of data each month. “It was not sustainable,” a senior technical officer admitted. “We were spending heavily to buy international bandwidth in dollars, but the returns were minimal.”

The heavy consumption soon began affecting everyone else on the network. Speeds dropped, connections froze and users in densely populated areas experienced consistent slowdowns. Even with over 2,800 cell sites upgraded to 4G and 46 new ones built across the country, the network was stretched to its limit.

Orange Sierra Leone increased its international bandwidth from 27 Gbps to 41.5 Gbps, a massive investment, but the pressure from a few high-usage customers continued to erode overall service quality. “We reached a point where we had to make a choice: keep a few users happy or maintain service quality for millions,” an internal memo reportedly stated.

Before pulling the plug, Orange followed due process. The company discussed the technical and financial implications and waited for the green light. Officials confirmed that the decision to discontinue the Kolat plan was fully compliant with national telecommunications regulations.

The withdrawal of the Le60 unlimited bundle sparked public concern over possible price increases. Orange, however, clarified that no such hike was made. Affordable options remain available, including the Le15 daily, Le40 three-day and Le100 weekly data bundles; all unchanged in cost.

In fact, a comparative study showed that Sierra Leone enjoys some of the lowest data costs in Africa. At about $0.10 (Le2.4) per megabyte, local rates are far below the continental average, which ranges between $1 and $5 per megabyte.

Orange Sierra Leone didn’t take its customers by surprise. The company announced the Kolat bundle’s withdrawal two weeks in advance through SMS alerts, radio, television and social media posts. Customers were encouraged to switch to other bundles before the change took effect.

In the end, the decision wasn’t about profit alone. It was about preserving network integrity and fairness. The unlimited model, while appealing, had begun to harm the digital ecosystem that millions relied on daily; students attending online classes, businesses processing payments and families staying connected.

Orange Sierra Leone has pledged to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation. “Our focus is on sustainable connectivity; affordable, reliable and accessible to all,” the company said in a statement.

The story of Kolat is a reflection of a global truth: in the digital age, even the most generous offers come with hidden costs. For Orange Sierra Leone, ending the bundle was not a retreat it; was a necessary reset to ensure that the country’s digital future remains fast, fair and sustainable.

​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.