When Orange Sierra Leone introduced its Kolat unlimited data bundle in May 2024, it quickly became a hit. For just Le60, customers could browse, stream, and download without limits. Many people saw it as a major step toward affordable digital access.

But while the offer was popular with users, it created serious challenges behind the scenes. The high demand placed a heavy strain on the company’s finances and its network capacity.

Within a few months, internet traffic surged by more than 80%. The increase was far greater than what the company expected, and revenue did not rise at the same pace. Orange Sierra Leone revealed that although less than 3% of its customers subscribed to the unlimited plan, those users consumed an enormous share of the network’s bandwidth. Some customers were reportedly using several Kolat subscriptions and consuming up to one terabyte of data each month.

This level of usage became too expensive to support. The company had to purchase more international bandwidth in dollars, but the income generated was not enough to balance the cost. As a result, the experience of other customers began to suffer. Internet speeds slowed down, connections froze, and network congestion increased, especially in busy areas.

Even after upgrading more than 2,800 sites to 4G and building 46 new ones, Orange struggled to keep up with demand. The company eventually boosted its international bandwidth from 27 Gbps to 41.5 Gbps, yet the pressure from heavy-use customers continued to affect overall service quality.

Orange Sierra Leone said it faced a difficult decision: continue allowing a small group of users to benefit from unlimited access or protect the quality of service for millions. After internal reviews and regulatory compliance checks, the company decided to discontinue the Kolat bundle.

Many customers worried that the move signaled rising data prices, but Orange clarified that no price increase was made. Affordable bundles, such as the Le15 daily, Le40 three-day, and Le100 weekly plans, remain unchanged. A comparative study also showed that Sierra Leone still enjoys some of the lowest data prices in Africa, averaging about $0.10 per megabyte—far below the regional range of $1 to $5.

Before discontinuing the offer, Orange notified customers two weeks in advance through SMS, radio, television, and social media. The company encouraged users to migrate to other bundles.

Ultimately, the decision was about maintaining a fair and reliable digital environment. While the unlimited plan was attractive, it had started to negatively impact students, businesses, and families who rely on stable internet access every day.

Orange Sierra Leone says it will continue investing in improvements and sustainable connectivity. According to the company, the end of Kolat reflects a simple truth: unlimited plans can come with hidden costs, and protecting the long-term quality of the network is essential for everyone.