LAGOS: Liberia's cellular giant, Lonestar Communications, is allegedly threatening to take the industry backwards into a monopolistic environment. Sources revealed that the alleged action by Lonestar Cell could disrupt national security, daily communication services and communication channels if not halted. However, the interconnection issue between the two leading networks in Liberia, Lonestar Cell and its rival, Cellcom still lingers. Last year, both companies were involved in communication exchange centering around an interconnection dispute between the two GSM service providers Lonestar Cell and Cellcom. The dispute dates back to early August 2011 when a complaint from Cellcom was filed with the LTA alleging that the Lonestar Cell GSM Company had blocked all the interconnection devices and equipment which enabled Cellcom subscribers to get connected with Lonestar Cell subscribers and vice versa. LTA intervened in the dispute when the situation between the two GSM entities was brought to its attention with the view of ensuring the subscribers using the network remain connected and not victimized. Now, informants asserted, Lonestar Cell is allegedly using the same tactics at the expense of public good, despite the LTA's regulatory requirements. Accordingly, subscribers are beginning to fear that Lonestar Cell's alleged threat could once again put consumers in danger of having their calls to friends and love ones interrupted repeatedly. Several subscribers from both cellular companies, who spoke to this paper over the weekend, expressed frustration over the manner in which the on-again, off-again disruption of cellular lines was hampering consumers' ability to communicate with each. Authorities of the Lonestar Cell are yet to comment on this latest development. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/j5zoG Tags: Liberia, Lonestar Cell, Monopoly Section: Travel, West Africa
