Africa’s First SIM-Based Child Online Protection Service Launches in Sierra Leone

KIDZONET, the UAE-based pioneer delivering Child Online Protection as a zero-touch telecom service, has entered into a landmark partnership with Africell, one of Africa’s fastest-growing mobile network operators, to launch the continent’s first SIM-based child online protection service. The collaboration is designed to protect millions of African families and redefine how digital safety is delivered at national scale. The service will debut in Sierra Leone, followed by phased introduction in Gambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola.

The official launch of Kidzonet, Africa’s first SIM-based child online protection service was made at the Africell E-Learning Hub in Freetown. Leaders from government, regulation, and industry came together to engage a challenge that is becoming part of everyday family life in the digital age. The event was attended by the Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, the Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Deputy Director General of the National Telecommunications Authority (NaTCA), the Chief Executive Officer of Africell, and members of the fourth estate. The service allows parents and guardians to manage their children’s access to social media and online content by dialing *499#, with controls applied directly at SIM level. Kidzonet filters and blocks content that is not suitable for children while leaving normal calls and SMS unaffected. It works only with an Africell SIM and does not operate over Wi-Fi. The service costs NLe9 and is valid for 30 days, making its use and cost clear to families. Making her statement, the Minister spoke about the role of companies that choose to act rather than stay passive as digital risks grow. She explained that Africell recognised a real gap between access and protection and decided to respond, while encouraging other network providers to do the same. She cautioned that uncontrolled use of social media can affect both children and adults, and stressed that online safety is a responsibility shared by families, service providers, and government. The launch also sits within Sierra Leone’s wider effort to protect children as technology becomes more central to daily life. Laws such as the Child Rights Act, 2007 and the Cyber Security and Crime Act, 2021 already set expectations for safeguarding children from harm, including in online spaces. Kidzonet connects those expectations to something practical that parents and guardians can use at home.

By turning responsibility into something parents can act on, Kidzonet gives families more control over how children experience the digital world. As Sierra Leone continues to expand digitally, the takeaway from the launch was straightforward: protecting children online cannot be treated as optional or postponed. It requires cooperation, consistency, and clear choices from everyone involved.

KIDZONET CEO Nidal Taha said:“We are proud to partner with Africell to launch Kidzonet, the first service of its kind in Africa. This partnership shows how technology can empower parents and protect children in a way that is simple, scalable, and inclusive. As a UAE-grown innovator, we take pride in seeing our solutions expand beyond the region and contribute to safer digital futures globally. Together with Africell, we setting a new benchmark for innovation and responsibility in telecom services.”

Africell CEO Quote:“Our role as a mobile operator goes far beyond providing connectivity; we shape how connectivity is used and ensure it actually benefits people’s lives. Partnering with KIDZONET enables us to take a proactive, meaningful step to protect children online. Launching Kidzonet starting in Sierra Leone and expanding across our markets is not only a technological achievement, but a commitment to responsibility in the digital era. By putting safety and trust at the centre of our digital ecosystem, we reaffirm our purpose: empowering communities, protecting the vulnerable, and making sure the power of connectivity is shared safely and responsibly.”

KIDZONET is a proud member of the WeProtect Global Alliance, a global coalition of over 300 stakeholders from governments, civil society, and the tech industry, dedicated to ending online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Its membership, announced in March 2025, underscores a deep commitment to shaping safer digital futures and aligns with the Alliance’s global agenda.