By Kemo Cham
The National
Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) of Sierra Leone has dismissed reports
that it ordered the shutting down of internet connectivity on Saturday.
Internet
connection went off shortly after counting began, and the blackout lasted for
about 12 hours. It sparked speculation from specially opposition supporters
that the governing All People’s Congress (APC) party could be up to a game to
rig the election.
Local
observer organisations, including the Independent Radio Network, which
comprises some 40 radio stations nationwide, use the internet to transmit
results across the county which serves as provisional results. The political
parties also use the internet to collect data from their agents and tally them.
Critics say the APC could have acted to prevent these organisations from tallying
their results.
NATCOM,
which is the government agency that regulates the telecoms sector, was accused
of ordering the shutdown.
Ina
statement, the Commission said that as a regulator it doesn’t provide services
neither does it operate a network and therefore couldn’t effect such a
decision. It said information it got pointed to a problem with the
international fiber optic cable from which Sierra Leone sources most of its
internet signal.
“The
commission also wishes it to be made known that it has not at any time ordered
any network to block or suspend any of its services to the public. As a matter
of fact, services of the commission have also been disrupted during this
period,” the statement reads.
NATCOM
therefore urged the public to direct queries to the Sierra Leone Cable Company
(SALCAB) which manages the fiber optic cable service.
KC/APA
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