Politics - Hard Facts Media

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FREE ROAMING REGULATIONS:ECOWAS Free Roaming Regulation – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).Overview:Previously, Liberians traveling within ECOWAS countries incurred high roaming charges for calls, SMS, and data. With the ECOWAS Free Roaming Regulation, roaming costs are significantly reduced. Liberian subscribers can now enjoy free incoming calls for up to 30 days, and benefit from local rates for outgoing services (calls, SMS, data) in visited countries.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):QUESTION: Will Liberian subscribers receive free incoming calls while roaming in ECOWAS countries?ANSWER: Yes. Liberian subscribers receive free incoming calls for 30 days in countries where Liberia has signed bilateral roaming agreements. As of now, this is available in Sierra Leone, with agreements underway with The Gambia, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire.QUESTION: Does this regulation affect subscribers who don’t travel?ANSWER: No, if you don't travel within the ECOWAS region, nothing changes. This regulation only benefits Liberian travelers who need to maintain their communication while abroad.QUESTION: How much did it cost Liberian subscribers to receive calls before ECOWAS Free Roaming, and how much is saved now?ANSWER: Before: $0.50 per minute (incoming calls)Now: Free for 30 daysSavings: 100%QUESTION: What about SMS Costs? What are the changes in SMS costs under ECOWAS Free Roaming?ANSWER: Before: $0.50 per SMS (sent and received)Now: Free for incoming SMS; $0.10 per outgoing SMSSavings: 100% (receiving SMS), 80% (sending SMS)QUESTION: How much do Liberian roamers use to pay to make local calls in the visited country? ANSWER: Before: $0.80 per minuteNow: $0.12 per minuteSavings: 85% decreaseQUESTION: What about international calls back to Liberia? How much did Liberian use to pay to make international calls back home when roaming in Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, or Ghana?ANSWER: Before: $0.80 per minuteNow: $0.65 per minuteSavings: 18.75% decreaseQUESTION: How much data roaming cost prior to ECOWAS Free Roaming? ANSWER: Before: $9.30 per MBNow: $0.06 per MB (rates may be lower with bundle packages)Savings: 99.35% decreaseData roaming is the most expensive part of roaming so most Liberian couldn’t afford it prior to ECOWAS Free Roaming. Most had to buy a local SIM to get access to the internet. QUESTION: Are there any restrictions or limitations?ANSWER: Yes. Permanent roaming is not allowed. Free roaming benefits are valid for 30 consecutive days. After that period, standard roaming charges apply. For longer stays, purchasing a local SIM card is recommended.QUESTION: Are there usage limits during the 30-day period?ANSWER: No. Unlimited calling, SMS, and data usage for the full 30-day roaming period.QUESTION: Do I need to activate roaming services manually?ANSWER: No. Roaming activates automatically upon arrival. However, you must manually enable "Data Roaming" in your phone's cellular settings to use mobile data. The LTA has encouraged Orange Liberia and MTN Liberia to introduce roaming bundles that users can activate via USSDQUESTION: Will I be notified when roaming becomes active?ANSWER: Yes. Yes. Your operator will send you an SMS notification once roaming is active. Public awareness efforts by LTA, Orange Liberia, and MTN Liberia will also help keep users informed.QUESTION: What if I'm charged incorrectly or can't access roaming services?ANSWER: First, contact your operator's complaints department. If the issue persists, escalate it to the LTA Consumer Affairs Department for resolution.QUESTION: Does this free roaming also cover the calls I make from Liberia to friends abroad?ANSWER: No. This regulation only covers roaming while abroad. Calling from Liberia to a foreign country is not roaming. International calling rates from Liberia remain unchanged and unregulated.QUESTION: Which countries are covered under the ECOWAS Free Roaming Regulations?ANSWER: Liberian subscribers can roam in any ECOWAS member country that has signed a bilateral roaming agreement with Liberia.QUESTION: What happens if I exceed the 30-day limit?ANSWER: Once you go beyond the 30-day limit, standard roaming tariffs will apply. Contact your operator for applicable rates.QUESTION: I live near the border, and my phone often connects to a neighboring country’s network. Does this count against my 30-day limit?ANSWER: Yes. As long as your phone connects to your home network (i.e Orange Liberia or MTN Liberia) at least once a day, that day will be counted as being at home, not roaming — even if it also connects to a neighboring ECOWAS country's network. Roaming providers in both countries are also expected to inform you about how to avoid accidental or unintended roaming.

1 min read

0 Comments

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FREE ROAMING REGULATIONS:ECOWAS Free Roaming Regulation – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).Overview:Previously, Liberians traveling within ECOWAS countries incurred high roaming charges for calls, SMS, and data. With the ECOWAS Free Roaming Regulation, roaming costs are significantly reduced. Liberian subscribers can now enjoy free incoming calls for up to 30 days, and benefit from local rates for outgoing services (calls, SMS, data) in visited countries.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):QUESTION: Will Liberian subscribers receive free incoming calls while roaming in ECOWAS countries?ANSWER: Yes. Liberian subscribers receive free incoming calls for 30 days in countries where Liberia has signed bilateral roaming agreements. As of now, this is available in Sierra Leone, with agreements underway with The Gambia, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire.QUESTION: Does this regulation affect subscribers who don’t travel?ANSWER: No, if you don't travel within the ECOWAS region, nothing changes. This regulation only benefits Liberian travelers who need to maintain their communication while abroad.QUESTION: How much did it cost Liberian subscribers to receive calls before ECOWAS Free Roaming, and how much is saved now?ANSWER: Before: $0.50 per minute (incoming calls)Now: Free for 30 daysSavings: 100%QUESTION: What about SMS Costs? What are the changes in SMS costs under ECOWAS Free Roaming?ANSWER: Before: $0.50 per SMS (sent and received)Now: Free for incoming SMS; $0.10 per outgoing SMSSavings: 100% (receiving SMS), 80% (sending SMS)QUESTION: How much do Liberian roamers use to pay to make local calls in the visited country? ANSWER: Before: $0.80 per minuteNow: $0.12 per minuteSavings: 85% decreaseQUESTION: What about international calls back to Liberia? How much did Liberian use to pay to make international calls back home when roaming in Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, or Ghana?ANSWER: Before: $0.80 per minuteNow: $0.65 per minuteSavings: 18.75% decreaseQUESTION: How much data roaming cost prior to ECOWAS Free Roaming? ANSWER: Before: $9.30 per MBNow: $0.06 per MB (rates may be lower with bundle packages)Savings: 99.35% decreaseData roaming is the most expensive part of roaming so most Liberian couldn’t afford it prior to ECOWAS Free Roaming. Most had to buy a local SIM to get access to the internet. QUESTION: Are there any restrictions or limitations?ANSWER: Yes. Permanent roaming is not allowed. Free roaming benefits are valid for 30 consecutive days. After that period, standard roaming charges apply. For longer stays, purchasing a local SIM card is recommended.QUESTION: Are there usage limits during the 30-day period?ANSWER: No. Unlimited calling, SMS, and data usage for the full 30-day roaming period.QUESTION: Do I need to activate roaming services manually?ANSWER: No. Roaming activates automatically upon arrival. However, you must manually enable "Data Roaming" in your phone's cellular settings to use mobile data. The LTA has encouraged Orange Liberia and MTN Liberia to introduce roaming bundles that users can activate via USSDQUESTION: Will I be notified when roaming becomes active?ANSWER: Yes. Yes. Your operator will send you an SMS notification once roaming is active. Public awareness efforts by LTA, Orange Liberia, and MTN Liberia will also help keep users informed.QUESTION: What if I'm charged incorrectly or can't access roaming services?ANSWER: First, contact your operator's complaints department. If the issue persists, escalate it to the LTA Consumer Affairs Department for resolution.QUESTION: Does this free roaming also cover the calls I make from Liberia to friends abroad?ANSWER: No. This regulation only covers roaming while abroad. Calling from Liberia to a foreign country is not roaming. International calling rates from Liberia remain unchanged and unregulated.QUESTION: Which countries are covered under the ECOWAS Free Roaming Regulations?ANSWER: Liberian subscribers can roam in any ECOWAS member country that has signed a bilateral roaming agreement with Liberia.QUESTION: What happens if I exceed the 30-day limit?ANSWER: Once you go beyond the 30-day limit, standard roaming tariffs will apply. Contact your operator for applicable rates.QUESTION: I live near the border, and my phone often connects to a neighboring country’s network. Does this count against my 30-day limit?ANSWER: Yes. As long as your phone connects to your home network (i.e Orange Liberia or MTN Liberia) at least once a day, that day will be counted as being at home, not roaming — even if it also connects to a neighboring ECOWAS country's network. Roaming providers in both countries are also expected to inform you about how to avoid accidental or unintended roaming.

Editorial: August 7 – A Nation Rises to Say “No to Drugs”

2 min read

0 Comments

Editorial: August 7 – A Nation Rises to Say “No to Drugs”

35-Year-Old Woman Drowns in Creek in River Gee County

1 min read

0 Comments

35-Year-Old Woman Drowns in Creek in River Gee County

Grand Kru County’s Rally Time Hospital Upgrades with Cutting-Edge Diagnostic Equipment

1 min read

0 Comments

Grand Kru County’s Rally Time Hospital Upgrades with Cutting-Edge Diagnostic Equipment

Four Arrested in River Cess Over Alleged Illegal Drug Activities

1 min read

0 Comments

Four Arrested in River Cess Over Alleged Illegal Drug Activities

Man Arrested After Fatal Stabbing in ‘Smell No Taste’ Community

1 min read

0 Comments

Man Arrested After Fatal Stabbing in ‘Smell No Taste’ Community

Criminal Court ‘B’ Judge Urges Swift Justice for 2,181 Pretrial Detainees

2 min read

0 Comments

Criminal Court ‘B’ Judge Urges Swift Justice for 2,181 Pretrial Detainees

China Expands Educational Influence in Liberia with Massive Scholarship Program

1 min read

0 Comments

China Expands Educational Influence in Liberia with Massive Scholarship Program

Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce Seeks Autonomous Status

1 min read

0 Comments

Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce Seeks Autonomous Status

𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠, 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 | 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭:

1 min read

0 Comments

Aggrieved Employees of Transport Ministry Petition U.S. Embassy Over Controversial LTM Concession Deal

1 min read

0 Comments

Aggrieved Employees of Transport Ministry Petition U.S. Embassy Over Controversial LTM Concession Deal

“Gentle Agreements”: The Case of Bukongedeh Group of Companies and Former Speaker Kofa

2 min read

0 Comments

“Gentle Agreements”: The Case of Bukongedeh Group of Companies and Former Speaker Kofa