By Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Telecommunications Authority LTA has fined Lonestar Cell ( MTN) and Orange Liberia three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars(300,000) each for what it terms as serious regulatory violations.
Mr. Abdullah Kamara narrated that the fine of the two GSM companies is attributed to their reported failure to adhere to floor price and to submit critical data with revenue meanings.
Speaking at the ministry of information cultural Affairs and Tourism regular press briefing on Thursday June 27, 2024, Commissioner Kamara revealed that a floor price is a regulatory intervention tool used to stabilize a declining market.
“In 2019 we used it to set a minimum consumer package price for both data and voice.It was effective and in response, to price wars, between providers. They were each trying to outdo each other by providing more minutes per dollars to consumers, below market price. It’s called predictory pricing”. Commissioner Kamara exclaimed
The LTA boss indicated that provider were unable to expand their networks and towers were being decommissioned nationwide.
“Providers were even laying off staff” he. continues
The MNO’s according to Commissioner Kamara are fully aware of their actions as a direct cause of this disruption in the market. The LTA has previously called them and urged them to slowly introduce packages within the floor price metric.
Commissioner Kamara further noted that the Board of commissioners of the LTA has reviewed the situation and resolved to penalize.
The Liberia Telecommunication Authority Boss at the same time disclosed three new unreported links belonging to orange LBR, two international and one local.
Abdullah Kamara intimated that the management of Orange-LBR has not informed the LTA of the additional links stressing that it’s a bold violation of their license.
He explained that Data collection from these links can not be verify unless they are reported and permission is granted through a written communication from the LTA.
The LTA boss described the violations as grave and compromise the ability to monitor the sector effectively.
By: Domingo Dargbeh
