Local news reports indicate that Liberian mobile operator Lonestar Cell-MTN is succeeding in its efforts to boost coverage to remote towns and villages across the country.
In a statement from Lonestar, founded in 2001 and majority owned by South Africa’s MTN Group, the operator says that it has to date connected around 104 rural communities to its network.
Recently additions include sites in such counties as Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, Bong, Gbarpolu, Maryland, River Gee, Sinoe, Lofa and Grand Gedeh.
Lonestar has been quoted as saying that more than 338,000 people living in these areas – areas not previously covered by any mobile network, can now make voice calls and send text messages for the first time. The installation of these new sites means that customers no longer need to travel long distances to search for a signal.
This follows the announcement in early January of the commissioning of new sites in more than 55 remote towns and villages across Liberia.
Lonestar Cell-MTN’s Chief Executive Officer, Uche Ofodile was quoted in local press reports as promising that “the communities we have connected so far are just the start. We will continue to connect more communities as we go along.”
Lonestar describes itself as the country’s leading operator, in a market that also includes Orange Liberia, Libtelco and Novafone.
