After attending the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Abdullah Kamara, Chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, shared his ambitious vision for revolutionizing Liberia’s internet infrastructure and fostering a vibrant tech ecosystem.
His vision aims not only to enhance connectivity across the nation but also to attract young innovators, creating a new generation of Liberian millionaires.
The annual World Mobile Congress gathers industry leaders, including tech giants like Google, Amazon, SpaceX, ZTE, and Orange, in a showcase of the latest innovations in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things , with a strong focus on the transformative potential of 5G technology.
During the conference, Kamara emphasized the discussions around digital transformation and regulatory adjustments necessary for Liberia to harness the benefits of these advancements.
“We’re looking to make the internet affordable and accessible for all Liberians while attracting major telecommunications companies to our market,” Kamara said in an interview with Oracle News Daily in the capital Monrovia.
“With the right infrastructure, we can empower our youth to create and innovate, transforming them into entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”
Kamara highlighted Liberia’s telecom market potential, citing the country’s substantial room for growth in internet penetration and service innovation.
With a population of approximately 5 million, Liberia has a significant opportunity to expand its digital economy. Currently, many rural areas remain underserved, but ambitious partnerships are emerging, such as those with Connect, which aims to bring high-speed internet to remote communities through satellite-based services like Starlink.
Discussions with these service providers have centered around regulatory measures to ensure that new technologies are implemented responsibly. “We’ve issued licenses to several local dealers of Starlink while ensuring they meet Starlink’s financial and operational standards. It’s a cautious but necessary step for a technology that’s new to us,” Kamara explained.
Moreover, Kamara announced plans to enhance digital literacy through national training programs aimed at engaging 50,000 people and promoting awareness around cybersecurity issues. Collaborations with the Ministry of Education will focus on incorporating ICT curricula in schools to foster a new generation of tech-savvy individuals.
The future of Liberia’s digital landscape also includes aspirations to join the Smart Africa initiative, a continental effort to promote digital transformation across the region. “Our vision is to become less reliant on technologies and systems from the global north. We need to create our own solutions and leverage our local talents,” he added.
Kamara’s vision for Liberia is a strategic effort to build an independent, self-sufficient technology ecosystem that supports innovation, promotes economic growth, and uplifts the youth of Liberia.
“In my tenure here, I will do less and less of the old technology. We will go soft,” he said.
“This year our big program is digital transformation. We are going beyond just training people, We will be investing in research and development to get more young people involved in research and tech innovation to create millionaires.
“We are talking about internet infrastructure to bring internet to the 15 counties. I want Superintendents to be online and connecting with the internal affairs Minister so that they will be able to do video conference.”
