b.
Provide availability, affordability and reliability of telecommunications and ICT
products and services to the public.
c.
Offer modern technologies and variety of service types.
d.
Increase the value of the sector.
e.
Improve service and product delivery.
f.
Contribute to ICT literacy and human resource capacity building.
g.
Support the poverty reduction strategy (Pillar–4).
2.5
MARKET STRUCTURES
2.5.1
Operations & Services
The government recognizes that technology and the marketplace are changing and will continue to evolve
in the future. The traditional market structure must also evolve with these changes to allow for flexibility
in consumer choices, marketing options and new technologies.
The goal of this policy is to promote accessibility, cost-efficiency and best quality telecommunication
operations and services.
a. MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATIONS: The policy is to liberalize the market
and support the licensing of other mobile operations. The strategy is to open the market and
support the licensing of other operators without saturating the market, consistent with market
analysis and international best practice. Licenses are required to provide wireless services,
interconnect with other service providers and allow the provision of voice telephony, data
transmission and video services.
b. INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATIONS: The policy is to open the
market to other operators for the provision of international traffic termination, which uses satellite
technology and/or land-based networks (cable, fiber optics) to route traffic to destinations outside
Liberia and terminate international calls in Liberia. The strategy is to support the licensing of up
to six (6) licenses for facilities-based international gateway operations.
c. FIXED TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATIONS: The policy is to open the market and
support the licensing of regional fixed facilities-based operations for the provision of land based
and terrestrial telecommunications networks, which uses fiber optic, cables and wire lines to route
traffic/calls between other carrier facilities and to end-users. Fixed licenses shall also be required
to provide international call termination services.
d. UNBUNDLED OPERATIONS: The policy supports telecommunication public licenses to be
issued based on service types and not technology. The policy recognizes the following service
types – mobile, fixed wireless, fixed lines, international terminations, next generation platforms,
Internet and VOIP to name a few. As advancements in modern technologies are introduced, the
LTA and the policy-makers shall define the roles and standards of new service-types and
technologies.
2.5.2
Spectrum & Frequency Management
The policy is to maximize returns in the utilization of spectrum resources for improvements in the
telecommunications, broadcast, air navigation, marine, weather reporting and health (x-ray) equipments
in the country. The Policy requires that the regulatory authority develop the Advanced Automated
Spectrum Management System (ASMS) to enhance frequency management, planning, allocation and
assignment;
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