Reports reaching this medium from the corridors of mobile telecommunications providers have indicated that the management of mobile service providers may shut down operations if the special charges levied on them on fuel and the current rise in the exchange rate are not adjusted.

According to our findings, with the current cost of petroleum products at 20 leones, mobile service providers have no choice as this is a special charge levied on them by the state. This has created huge financial burden on all mobile service providers to buy fuel for their daily operations.

The current foreign exchange rate, particularly the dollar which is the most popular currency in the world has unimaginably toppled the leones and has adversely affected All mobile service operators in the country. It’s no fun that the astronomical rise of the dollar as against the leones has badly hit the telecommunications sector of the country.

As the dollar continues to hit the roof and coupled with the global economic downturn, the telecommunication sector will not thrive well if they are left unattended, sad to note that, if nothing is done by the appropriate authorities to cushion the challenges that mobile service operators are facing in the country. It will suddenly affect investment and employment. It’s no joke that the government of Sierra Leone needs to speedily address the issue and save the telecommunication sector from collapsing.

Our sources are also concerned that if things do not change most of the mobile service operators will shut down operation until things return to normal.

They further informed this medium that they are worried for the security of their jobs, claiming that if nothing is done to support the sector most of them will be sacked.

Therefore, they joined in calling the relevant stakeholders in the sector to address the current challenges that the mobile service operators are facing in the country.