Africell Launches Africa’s First SIM-Based Child Online Protection Service in Sierra Leone. Freetown, Sierra Leone — 2026-01-08 Lead Paragraph Leading telecommunications provider Africell has introduced Kidzonet, a novel SIM-based child online protection service in Sierra Leone, designed to shield children from harmful internet content. This service marks a significant step in child safety within the country’s digital landscape.
Body. Africell’s Kidzonet operates directly at the SIM card level, making it accessible without the need for additional applications or software downloads. This approach ensures comprehensive child protection across all mobile data usage, regardless of the device type.
Speaking at the launch, Africell CEO Shadi Gerjawi emphasized the importance of safety in connectivity. “Connectivity should not only connect people but also protect them, “Gerjawi stated. “With Kidzonet, we aim to remove technical barriers that often hinder families from safeguarding their children online.”.
Maama Seiwoh — Koroma, the Deputy Director General of the National Communications Authority (NatCA), hailed the launch as a crucial milestone in online child protection, aligning with the NatCA Act of 2022 and the Cybercrime Act of 2021. Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs Hindowa Buakai Bindi welcomed the initiative, urging parents to actively supervise their children’s online activities in a rapidly digitizing world.
The service is easy to activate by dialing 499#, selecting option 8, and following the prompts.
The activation fee is NLe 9, payable via Afrimoney or airtime.
The launch of Kidzonet reflects a growing collaboration between telecom operators, regulators, and government entities to enhance child online safety in Sierra Leone. Ending.
Further details regarding the widespread adoption and impact of Kidzonet are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
For now, it stands as Africa’s first SIM-based child online protection service, offering a new layer of security for young internet users in Sierra Leone.
