Qcell Pushes Digital Growth Nationwide
By Mo Hamad Kargbo
The Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Technology, and Innovation on Tuesday, 26th August 2025, conducted an oversight visit to Qcell Sierra Leone’s headquarters in Freetown, where the telecom provider outlined its strides in affordable data, nationwide connectivity, and community impact.
Welcoming the lawmakers, Qcell’s Chief Executive Officer, Kamayani Karthink, described the engagement as a proud moment for the company, emphasizing its mission of “empowering communities and bridging gaps through communication.” He highlighted Qcell’s philosophy of connectivity, equity, and opportunity, stressing its role in reshaping Sierra Leone’s telecommunications landscape.
“Since 2018, with an enabling regulatory framework and government policies, Qcell has grown from a small entrant to a reckoning force in the sector,” Karthink said. “Qcell is all about Sierra Leone pride, built on passion, respect, innovation, integrity, and discipline.”
The CEO pointed to achievements such as lowering internet costs with one gigabyte of data dropping from around US$4–5 before 2018 to less than US$1 today and increasing data penetration from 40% to nearly 65%. He further highlighted innovations like QMoney for financial inclusion and QPower, which enables customers to buy EDSA electricity units directly with airtime, the first of its kind in Sierra Leone.
Qcell’s Chief Technical Officer, Atteya Baher, disclosed that out of 80 planned sites in 2025, 75 have already been integrated, all fully solar-powered. He noted that underserved communities such as Mano Bojema now enjoy reliable mobile and internet services for the first time. More than 90 sites have been upgraded from 3G to 4G, while 5G trials are underway.
Head of Marketing, Edward Nelson Pratt, added that Qcell now operates in all 16 districts, including recent expansions into Falaba, ensuring coverage “from Barmoiya on the Guinea border to Waterside in Liberia.” He also highlighted the company’s contributions to education, sports, and tourism from supporting schools with smartphones to promoting girl-child education and partnering with local football teams.
The visit, MPs noted, provided a vital opportunity to review Qcell’s progress, address its challenges, and reinforce collaboration between Parliament and the telecom sector in advancing digital inclusion and national development.
