While on a one-day working visit for the first time to Sierra Leone Wednesday, Chris Gabriel, Zain CEO for the African region, discussed the country's international gateway with Information and Communication Minister Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo.

Sierra Leone's international gateway is still controlled by government-owned carrier Sierra Leone Telecommunications (Sierratel), as the Cabinet extended Sierratel's rights by another five years after a review in August.

Zain's inability to operate its own gateway has been cited as the major factor hindering the commencement of its One Network service in Sierra Leone. Zain launched One Network in Africa in September 2006 as the world's first borderless mobile telecom network service.

Zain is keen to continue its investment in Sierra Leone and work with the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), Gabriel said during his courtesy call with the minister.

Kargbo said that he is aware of the issues involving Sierra Leone's international gateway and noted that his government, which is committed to promoting the concept of a liberal economy, is yet to hand the gateway over to a third party.

Since telecom is the fastest-growing industry in Sierra Leone, Kargbo said, he has taken his time to study the matter carefully and disclosed that plans are ongoing to review the Telecommunications Act to make it "more open and easy for both regulators and telecom companies."

Afterwards, Gabriel -- who was accompanied on the trip by Steve Torode, Zain chief operating officer for Central Africa -- met with senior officials of NATCOM at their Hill Station office and also visited the Zain cellular site in Port Loko.

At a press conference at the Lagoonda Hotel, Gabriel said his mission in Sierra Leone is to ensure the success of Zain and to understand problems facing the company's staff.