The Parliament of Sierra Leone has put on hold its earlier order requiring Africell and Orange Sierra Leone to restore their previous weekly data promotions within 24 hours. The directive, issued after public complaints over the discontinuation of the popular Le 60 weekly bundle, was intended to ensure affordable access for students and low-income users who rely heavily on mobile internet for education and daily communication.
Following the announcement, both mobile operators quickly appealed the decision, citing technical challenges that made an immediate restoration impractical. Orange Sierra Leone indicated that it had migrated to a Le 100 weekly bundle offering faster speeds, while Africell introduced a Le 80 five-day unlimited plan designed to balance network stability with user access. Lawmakers have acknowledged the appeal and temporarily suspended enforcement of their order as they review the operators’ explanations and technical documentation. The move has drawn attention to the tension between consumer protection and operational realities in Sierra Leone’s telecommunications sector, highlighting the need for careful regulation, transparency, and public consultation.
Civil society groups and student associations continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing that access to affordable data remains a crucial issue for many Sierra Leoneans. Parliament is expected to hold further hearings to assess whether the modified data bundles adequately serve users without penalizing affordability or digital inclusion, and the outcome could have lasting implications for how telecom companies and regulators balance service quality with public interest.