MTN Liberia ordered to dismantle transmission links with Cote d’Ivoire

ITNewsAfrica reports that mobile operator MTN Liberia, trading as Lonestar Cell, has taken down its transmission links with neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire following an order from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA). The dismantling of links was completed between 9 August and 23 August, and came in the wake of the LTA’s ruling that MTN had breached the Telecom Act of 2007 by deploying microwave dishes and other transmission equipment in Kpein, Nimba County and in Toe Town, Grand Gedeh County. Commenting on the cease and desist order, LTA chairwoman Angelique Weeks also warned other operators in the country which may be involved in ‘similar acts’ to comply with the 2007 Law immediately, adding that the watchdog would ‘not hesitate to go after them’. Nathaniel Kelvin, a senior manager within MTN Liberia’s regulatory department, admitted the ‘misstep’ and reassured the LTA that the firm was committed to complying with local regulations.