Sonatel Group reaffirms commitment to Sierra Leone’s digital future

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Sonatel Group has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s digital transformation, with renewed focus on expanding 4G connectivity and strengthening national telecommunications infrastructure.

Sonatel Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brelotte Ba, made this know when he paid a courtesy visit to President Julius Maada Bio at State House in Freetown, where discussions centred on accelerating digital inclusion and enhancing connectivity across the country. During the engagement, Mr. Ba outlined the Group’s plans to scale up nationwide 4G coverage, sustain significant investments in network modernisation and capacity upgrades, and support the government’s broader digital transformation and innovation agenda through resilient and reliable connectivity.

Introducing the Sonatel delegation, Orange Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sekou Amadou Bah, described Mr. Ba as a seasoned telecommunications executive with more than two decades of experience across Sonatel and Orange operations in Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. He noted that Mr. Ba’s regional expertise and strategic leadership would further strengthen Orange Sierra Leone’s operations and service delivery.

Mr. Ba’s visit comes ahead of the official inauguration of Orange Sierra Leone’s second data centre in Bo, a development expected to significantly enhance the country’s digital infrastructure backbone, improve network reliability and strengthen service resilience.

Highlighting Sierra Leone’s strategic importance within the Sonatel ecosystem, Mr. Ba noted that Orange Sierra Leone currently delivers approximately 80 percent of the country’s 4G services. He said the Group is intensifying efforts to extend high-speed mobile internet to more districts and rural communities, while investing in future-ready infrastructure capable of supporting education, entrepreneurship, public services and overall economic growth.

He also reaffirmed Sonatel’s commitment to digital inclusion, pointing to the establishment of Orange Digital Centers across the country, which provide young people, students and innovators with access to digital skills and innovation support. Mr. Ba expressed appreciation to President Bio for his continued support and for fostering an enabling environment for telecommunications investment.

President Julius Maada Bio welcomed the Sonatel and Orange Sierra Leone delegation and commended the Group for its role in advancing Sierra Leone’s digital and economic development. He underscored the importance of telecommunications as a driver of growth, noting that reliable and affordable connectivity is essential for the country to compete effectively in the global economy. The President welcomed the expansion of 4G services, the new data centre in Bo and ongoing infrastructure investments as critical steps towards inclusive growth and expanded opportunity.