Liberia Telecom Proposal Seeks to Eliminate Monopoly

 

 

The proposed policy earmarked at the Policy and Strategy Workshop held in Monrovia recently will seek to eliminate or reduce the traditional limitations or barriers to market entry in favor of a liberalized environment

 

 

Sidiki Trawally

strawally@liberianobserver.com

 

 

July 12-The World Bank, in partnership with the Liberian government has earmarked a comprehensive National Telecommunications Policy for Liberia which has strapping supports for an open and competitive market system that will eliminate monopoly in the sector.

 

The proposed policy earmarked at the Policy and Strategy Workshop held in Monrovia recently will seek to eliminate or reduce the traditional limitations or barriers to market entry in favor of a liberalized environment to allow forces of the market and technology to determine the most effective means to provide services to end users.

 

Consistent with its objectives and mission, the policy will provide services in an open-market oriented environment, which allows private sector companies maximum flexibility to develop the sector in response to consumer demand and public needs. The plan clearly defines time-bound goals which are critical to the rebuilding of war torn Liberia.

 

If adopted, the proposed policy which is defined as critical ingredients to rebuilding the Liberian communication system will unbolt the telecomm market to broad competition, investment and innovation. It will also relax the telecommunication sector to improve and increase its services throughout the country.

 

Supporting Material

The Full Report/Recommendation

 

The new and modern communication infrastructure proposed will contribute to the reintegration and the revitalization of the Liberian communities, particularly in the countryside and speed the path towards economic growth and return of private investment to the region.

 

The policy will establish the framework that will move forward Liberia's telecomm sector and transforms the nation towards an information-based economy and society. The primary role of the Liberian Telecommunication Authority will be facilitate fair and effective competition in all market segment, while supporting the expansion of the industry leading to universal access to telecom services throughout Liberia.

 

The proposed telecom policy supports the education, economic and social development to permit Liberian children and workers get in touch with the global trends and become industrious. The policy will reduce prices of telecom services to make it affordable for all Liberians. It will also put in place high quality and friendly customer services that would be promoted by government's regulation.

 

The policy calls for transparency in its regulation of the open and competitive neutral market and will ensure that the use of wireless technologies will stimulate growth through the expansion of the public and commercial services in the country.