The National Telecommunications Authority (NaTCA) is under growing scrutiny for failing to protect satellite broadcaster DSTV against rampant piracy, raising questions about regulatory oversight and the future of Sierra Leone’s digital economy.
Piracy on the rise across the country as unauthorized vendors are openly selling pirated DSTV subscriptions at a fraction of the official cost.
These illegal services often rely on hacked decoders or unauthorized streaming platforms, making premium sports, movies, and international channels available without proper licensing.
A local distributor, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as “a bleeding wound for the industry.” He added: “We pay taxes, licensing fees, and invest in infrastructure, but pirates operate freely without consequence. It’s killing legitimate business.”
Mr. Alpha Kamara, a communication expert, argues that NaTCA has failed to enforce existing laws or introduce new measures to combat piracy. The Telecommunications experts point out that the regulator has the authority to monitor signal distribution and penalize offenders but has yet to make a visible move.
Media analyst Mohamed Bangura told The Informant, “NaTCA’s silence is deafening. Piracy is not just theft from DSTV it undermines investor confidence in Sierra Leone’s digital sector.”
The economic and social Impact are that of revenue losses as DSTV and its partners lose millions annually, weakening their ability to invest in local content.
On the other hand, it had affected government taxes, as piracy continued to deprive the state of significant tax revenue.
Customers are also facing risk as many pirated services are unreliable, leaving customers vulnerable to sudden blackouts and fraud.
DSTV’s parent company, MultiChoice, has previously lobbied African regulators to strengthen anti-piracy frameworks. In Sierra Leone, however, industry insiders say NaTCA has yet to respond with concrete measures.
Citizens are now urging the government to intervene. “If NaTCA won’t act, Parliament must,” said Ibrahim Kamara, a consumer rights advocate. “We cannot allow piracy to become the norm.”
The National Communications Authority (NaTCA) is the statutory body established under the NaTCA Act of 2022 to regulate the country’s telecommunications and ICT sector. It’s the principal regulator for electronic communications and digital infrastructure, evolving from the former NATCOM to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding ICT sector.