Sierra Leone Standard Communication Optical Cable

Sierra Leone's optical fiber network is anchored by the ACE submarine cable and a national terrestrial fiber backbone managed by both government and private operators.

National Fiber Infrastructure

Sierra Leone's optical communication infrastructure is built around a combination of submarine and terrestrial fiber networks. The Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable provides the country's first high-capacity international connectivity, landing in Freetown and enabling faster, more affordable internet compared to the previously relied-upon satellite connections (SALCAB) . The ECOWAN network complements this by providing national wholesale services, ensuring broadband access across government, businesses, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities .

Key Operators

• Leonecom is a neutral fiber optic operator partnering with the government to manage the national fiber backbone. It provides capacity transportation services and connectivity through a terrestrial fiber network, enabling operators to scale bandwidth and extend services nationwide .
• Ultra One, formed from the merger of ZoodLabs and Metro Cable, operates a robust fiber-optic backbone and has invested in 5G Open-RAN infrastructure, offering flexible, vendor-neutral connectivity solutions for mobile operators, ISPs, and enterprises .
• Metro Cable provides Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) services and maintains open-access infrastructure, although it has experienced service disruptions due to fiber damage incidents, highlighting the importance of network security and monitoring .
• Sierra Leone Cable Limited (SALCAB), a government-owned entity, acts as the ACE submarine cable landing party and provides wholesale international and national services, aiming to make broadband affordable and accessible .

Government Oversight

The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) oversees ICT policy and regulation, while the National Communications Authority (NatCA) regulates telecommunications, manages the national numbering plan, cybersecurity, and frequency spectrum, and ensures fair competition among service providers . These institutions coordinate with private operators to expand broadband coverage and improve service quality.

Impact and Development

The deployment of the ACE cable and national fiber backbone has transformed Sierra Leone's digital landscape, reducing reliance on expensive satellite connections, improving internet speed, and enabling digital services for education, healthcare, and commerce . Operators like Leonecom and Ultra One are actively expanding coverage to underserved areas, integrating innovative technologies, and supporting the country's transition toward a digital economy . In summary, Sierra Leone's standard communication optical cable infrastructure combines international submarine connectivity via ACE with a national terrestrial fiber network, managed collaboratively by government and private operators, to provide scalable, high-speed broadband across the country.