NATCOM, Information Ministry, Finalizes Draft Electronics Communications Act.
Friday 1st February 2019
The National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) has in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications commenced a three days retreat to review the Draft Electronics Communications Act that has been in development for the past six years.
The retreat brought together participants from SALCAB, Universal Access Development Fund (UADF) and the media.
In his opening statement, Minister of Information and Communications, Hon Mohamed Rado Swarray spoke about his ministry’s commitment in ensuring the proposed legislation becomes law in the next ninety days.
Representing the Chairman of the Board of NATCOM, Commissioner Madiana Samba assured the gathering of the Board’s Commitment in ensuring the draft legislation has the necessary ingredients to deal with possible infractions which may not have been envisaged at time the legislation was drafted.
Articulating the vision of NATCOM the Director General, Maxwell Massaquoi recounted how the Commission had evolved over the years and catalogued regulations developed by the Commission to address emerging issues in the communications sector like quality of services, SIM card registration etc.
In the next few days, participants who have been placed into thematic groups would carefully go through the various provisions in the draft with a view to amend grey areas in it. A final version of the Act is expected to capture areas earlier not envisaged by a consultant recruited for this purpose.
Consequently, gaps identified in the existing 2006 NATCOM Act would be addressed to make NATCOM far more effective in executing its mandate.
©️ NATCOM Communications Unit
NATCOM Participates in Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data Workshop
The Director-General of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) Maxwell Massaquoi was part of a delegation from Sierra Leone that attended the just concluded Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) workshop held on 21st-22nd February at the Kempinski Villa Rose Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
With the theme, “Mobile Data for Social Impact” the workshop which attracted participants from telecoms regulators, civil society, statistics bureau and the media was organized by GPSDD to discuss the effective use of Call Data Records(CDRs) in monitoring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs).
Moderating the session on ‘Timely monitoring of SDGs and mobile data: Strengthening capacity’ the Director- General of NATCOM spoke about the laudable strides Sierra Lone has made in the area of utilizing mobile Call Data Records to inform the policy formulation of programs on service delivery especially in fields of transportation, health care and infrastructural development.
The DG was more optimistic when he said the continent can achieve some of its development aspirations through the use of data sourced from mobile call records.
The delegation from Sierra Leone comprised Hon. Jusufu Mansaray from the Board of Commissioners NATCOM, Francis Kamara, Manager Corporate Affairs of NATCOM, Ms. Yeama Thompson, Commissioner Right To Access To Information Commission, and the Chairman National Council for Civic Education Mr. Kalilu Ibrahim Totangi.
The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data is a network of selected partners across the African continent, with the primary goal of using mobile data to achieve and monitor the SDGs
©️ NATCOM Communications Unit