DSTI's Connectivity Ambitions Clash With Societal Realities

DSTI's Connectivity Ambitions Clash With Societal Realities

The Government of Sierra Leone says it is accelerating efforts to close the country’s digital divide through an ambitious national connectivity drive targeting thousands of schools, universities, and underserved communities. 

But while officials describe the initiative as evidence of major technological progress, questions remain over whether the country’s digital infrastructure realities fully match the government’s bold claims.

Speaking on Truth Media Live on Tuesday, the Head of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Jasper Sembie, said Sierra Leone is positioning itself as one of Africa’s emerging digital connectivity success stories through the implementation of the global Giga project.

The Giga initiative, a partnership between United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)  aims to connect schools worldwide to the internet and improve digital access for millions of children globally.  According to Sembie, Sierra Leone’s version of the project seeks to connect 5,000 schools across the country including remote and underserved communities with solar-powered internet access.

“This year, we are connecting 403 schools,” Sembie stated during the live broadcast. “As I speak, we have connected over 70 schools in Freetown, both in the Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural, while the remaining connections are ongoing in the provinces.” 

He explained that the project goes beyond classroom learning, arguing that connected schools are also expected to serve surrounding communities with broader digital access.

“This is not just for schools from 9am to 5pm; it will also reach communities,” he said. “Before connection, we will engage the community.”

In one of the strongest parts of his interview, Sembie claimed Sierra Leone now enjoys “100% 3G connectivity,” “over 92% 4G coverage,” “100% standalone 5G coverage in the city,” and “100% satellite access across the country.”

“So, when it comes to connectivity, Sierra Leone is a leader in the world and we should be impressed by our progress,” he said.

However, independent online assessments and consumer experiences present a more complicated picture regarding nationwide digital access and network quality.

While Sierra Leone has recorded significant improvements in telecommunications expansion over recent years, particularly in urban centers, publicly available connectivity reports suggest that rural internet access and network reliability remain inconsistent outside major cities.  Industry observers note that although mobile operators such as Africell, Orange Sierra Leone, and Qcell have expanded mobile coverage nationwide, internet speed, affordability, electricity supply challenges, and rural network stability continue to affect digital accessibility for many Sierra Leoneans.

Publicly available connectivity guides indicate that while parts of Freetown experience relatively stronger 4G services, several rural communities still rely heavily on slower 3G or unstable network connections. 

Additionally, independent sources reviewing Sierra Leone’s telecom infrastructure have suggested that large-scale standalone 5G deployment remains limited and concentrated within specific urban locations rather than nationwide commercial accessibility. 

Despite these concerns, Sierra Leone’s partnership with the Giga initiative reflects one of the country’s most ambitious attempts at digital education transformation since the expansion of free quality education policies under President Julius Maada Bio.

DSTI previously announced Sierra Leone’s formal participation in Giga through collaboration with UNICEF and ITU as part of broader efforts to advance “Digitization for All.” 

The initiative focuses on mapping schools, expanding internet infrastructure, mobilizing financing, and supporting governments with digital procurement and connectivity planning.  Interestingly, previous DSTI publications referenced ambitions to connect as many as 11,000 schools nationwide under broader digital infrastructure planning involving the Islamic Development Bank and UNICEF partnerships. 

Sembie also disclosed during the interview that government has already connected over 26 campuses across 13 universities, describing “inclusion” as the central philosophy driving Sierra Leone’s digital agenda.

While the government presents digital connectivity as a transformative national achievement, education advocates say internet access alone may not automatically solve deeper structural problems affecting schools in Sierra Leone. 

Across many rural communities, schools continue to struggle with shortages of trained teachers, electricity supply, learning materials, furniture, and safe infrastructure  challenges that could affect the long-term sustainability of internet-based learning systems.

Analysts also say maintaining digital infrastructure in remote communities may prove as difficult as deploying it, particularly in areas with weak electricity networks and limited technical support systems.

Still, supporters of the initiative argue that expanding internet access into schools could significantly improve educational opportunities, digital literacy, research access, and community development in underserved regions.

For many students in remote districts who have never experienced stable internet access, the promise of a connected classroom represents more than technology. It represents access  to information, opportunity, and a digital world that much of rural Sierra Leone has historically remained excluded from.