Liberia attracts private enterprise to build fibre networks
Liberia had an effective telephone system before civil war erupted in 1989, though national connectivity relied on basic analogue switching stations situated in each of the 15 counties, interconnected using microwave links. While this fixed-line network was neither efficient nor accessible to much of the population, the war rendered it virtually inoperable. As a result, Liberia became a country in which mobile networks essentially provide the only voice and data services available outside Monrovia.
The fixed network was a monopoly of Libtelco (rebranded as LTC Mobile in early 2022), a company which became a by-word for mismanagement. The government also lost interest in the company, though from 2020 there have been attempts to revitalise the company's prospects by enabling it to operate mobile services in competition with MTN Liberia and Orange Liberia.
Developing fixed-line infrastructure is largely in the hands of private enterprise, along with support from USAID and other agencies. In July 2017 Google started a project with ISPs aimed at improving access to internet services and enhancing IP-delivered services in the health, education, and agriculture sectors. Google is being supported by its partner CSquared, which built a fibre network covering parts of Monrovia and connecting 51 government institutions. It has also designed small-scale fibre metro networks in Kampala and Accra.
CSquared in November 2021 was awarded a licence to build an open-access fibre network across Liberia, which will be available to MNOs and ISPs on a wholesale basis.
Table of Contents
Key statistics- Regional Africa Market Comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI vs GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
Country overview
- Telecommunications market
- Historical overview
Regulatory environment
- Overview
- Regulatory authority
- Fixed-line developments
- Mobile network developments
Mobile market
- Market analysis
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile infrastructure
- Major mobile operators
- Mobile content and applications
Fixed broadband market
- Introduction and statistical overview
Fixed-line operators
- LTC Mobile
- West Africa Telecom (WAT)
Telecommunications infrastructure
- Overview of the national telecom network
- International infrastructure
Appendix Historic data
- Glossary of abbreviations
- Related reports
List of Tables
- Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Liberia 2022(e)
- Table 2 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
- Table 3 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2012 2027
- Table 4 Change in the number of MTN Liberia's subscribers and ARPU 2012 2022
- Table 5 Growth in the number of MTN Liberia's mobile data subscribers 2016 2021
- Table 6 Development of MTN Liberia's financial data (ZAR million) 2012 2021
- Table 7 Change in MTN Liberia's mobile usage 2013 2021
- Table 8 Change in the number of Orange Liberia's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
- Table 9 Growth in the number of MTN Liberia's m-money subscribers 2018 2021
- Table 10 Internet users and penetration rate in Liberia 2011 2019
- Table 11 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers 2011 2027
- Table 12 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 2012 2027
- Table 13 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity in Liberia 1999 2011
- Table 14 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration 2001 2011
- Table 15 Historic - SMS traffic 2008 2013
- Table 16 Historic - Novafone mobile subscribers 2013 2016
- Table 17 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2008 2017
- Table 18 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate in Liberia 1999 2011
- Table 19 Historic - MTN Liberia subscribers, ARPU 2005 2011
List of Charts
- Chart 1 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders
- Chart 2 Africa Market Leaders global ranking
- Chart 3 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
- Chart 4 Africa Market Challengers global ranking
- Chart 5 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
- Chart 6 Africa Market Emergents global ranking
- Chart 7 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
- Chart 8 Africa Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 9 Africa Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 10 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
- Chart 11 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2013 2027
- Chart 12 Change in the number of MTN Liberia's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
- Chart 13 Growth in the number of MTN Liberia's mobile data subscribers 2016 2021
- Chart 14 Development of MTN Liberia's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 15 Change in the number of Orange Liberia's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 16 Growth in the number of MTN Liberia's m-money subscribers 2018 2021
- Chart 17 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 2012 2027
List of Exhibits
- Exhibit 1 Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
- Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
- Exhibit 3 Africa Market Leaders and market developments
- Exhibit 4 Africa Market Challengers and market developments
- Exhibit 5 Africa Market Emergents and market developments
- Exhibit 6 Map of Liberia
