• Liberia issues first Value-Added Services (VAS) aggregator licenses to boost local digital services.

• Five firms licensed so far, with ten targeted by year-end.

• Move supports 2025–2029 National Digital Strategy for inclusive access.

On October 1, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) issued its first-ever licenses for insurance Value-Added Services (VAS) aggregators. The regulator said the initiative is designed to promote Liberian entrepreneurs, broaden market participation, and improve service delivery nationwide.

Commissioner for Licensing and Regulations, Ben Fofana, speaking on behalf of the LTA Board of Commissioners, described the milestone as critical to building confidence in the sector. “We believe this achievement will strengthen confidence, encourage investment, and support the growth of our digital economy,” he said.

The licensing framework aims to open the market to smaller Liberian operators who have traditionally struggled to compete with dominant players. Fofana stressed that the LTA wants local entrepreneurs to claim a bigger share of the telecom value chain. “We want more people to enter so that this market, particularly Liberians, can take a substantial portion of it. We want you to make money and improve our own economy,” he said.

According to the LTA, five operators have completed the licensing process so far, though more than ten expressed initial interest. The regulator targets licensing at least ten aggregators by December 2025. Licensees are required to strictly adhere to regulatory requirements to ensure transparency and sustainability.

VAS aggregators act as intermediaries between mobile operators and service providers, making it easier for companies to deliver services such as mobile payments, e-learning, health information systems, and other digital applications directly to consumers. For ordinary citizens, this means easier access to affordable digital services on their phones, without the need for direct contracts with major telecom operators. In practice, it opens up opportunities for new products—from mobile banking to educational platforms—to reach underserved communities.

For Liberia, where mobile penetration was estimated at around 90.1% in early 2025, according to datareportal, expanding VAS could help drive financial inclusion, digital innovation, and job creation.

This initiative directly supports the government’s “Whole of Government” National Digital Strategy (2025–2029), which envisions a digitally empowered, integrated government that is socially inclusive, responsive, and accountable. The strategy aims to advance the knowledge economy and leverage technology to deliver high-quality public services nationwide

Licensees welcomed the initiative, saying it would create new opportunities for Liberian businesses in the digital economy.

Hikmatu Bilali