Communication in Lesotho

Everyday communication in Lesotho is mainly informal. People commonly use direct conversation, telephone calls, SMS and WhatsApp or other digital messengers. Sesotho and English are official communication languages, alongside isiXhosa, isiPhuthi and sign language. Lesotho Sign Language (LSL) became an official language in August 2025. The choice of language depends on the people involved, the institution and the situation. The Lesotho Communications Authority, established in 2000 under the Communications Act No. 4 of 2012, licenses and regulates telecommunications, postal and courier services. It approves tariffs, protects consumers, monitors quality of service and manages frequencies. It does not regulate internet content or social media as a general content regulator. Mobile communication is provided by two licensed network companies: Vodacom Lesotho and Econet Telecom Lesotho. Both offer voice, SMS and data services, usually through prepaid plans or bundles. Mobile money, USSD self-service and customer-care services are also available. Lesotho's country code is +266. Regulations from 2021 require SIM registration, so access normally involves registration with a provider and proof of identity. Vodacom provides customer care through 114 and self-service through *111#; M-Pesa is available through authorised outlets. Prices depend on the provider, plan, bundle and usage. Mobile broadband is the dominant internet access method. The LCA reported broadband penetration of 75 per 100 in 2024/25, while a 2025 government assessment reported that about half the population lacked internet access or digital skills. Fixed internet providers, other network services and satellite internet offer alternatives where available. Starlink received a Lesotho licence in 2025. The LCA's 2023 quality rules cover mobile voice, SMS, data and web services, streaming, call centres and postal and courier services. Coverage, affordability, equipment, power supply and local network conditions can still affect practical access. Lesotho Postal Services, also called Lesotho Post, operates under a department of the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation. The Post Office Act 13 of 1979 provides the legal basis for postal services. Lesotho Post has 46 post offices and its headquarters in Maseru. Services include letters, small packets, parcels, bulk posting, literature for blind readers, EMS, post office boxes, money transfers, agency services and philately. Its mail service covers acceptance, processing, dispatch, conveyance and delivery. A reclamation unit handles mail enquiries. Fees and delivery times depend on the service and destination; a single nationwide delivery time is not established in the available sources. For contact with government, the Government of Lesotho National Contact Centre and Citizen Feedback Mechanism receive enquiries and feedback for ministries. The toll-free number is +266 80010100 and the email address is contact.centre@gov.ls. The stated service timeline is three days. The centre forwards ministry-related matters to the responsible ministry. Lesotho's e-government infrastructure includes civil registration, e-health, e-procurement and e-customs services. A digital or service-ID pilot dated 2 April 2026 used a valid national ID, a registered SIM and biometrics; its post-pilot live status has not been independently confirmed. The Persons with Disability Equity Act 2021 applies to public offices, ministries, institutions, public buildings and public-service agencies. It supports accessible communication through sign language, Braille, tactile formats, large print, accessible multimedia and information technology, plain language, human readers and augmentative or alternative communication. Public information and events of national significance should use accessible formats, including sign-language support where required. The independent Persons with Disability Advisory Council provides a statutory institutional framework. Practical access is not necessarily available everywhere, and an interpreter or another format may need to be arranged individually. No uniform nationwide fee for these arrangements is established in the available sources. A communication dispute normally starts with the provider or postal company. Contact it orally or in writing, keep copies and preserve subscriber details, receipts, bills, messages and other evidence. The LCA Consumer Protection Guidelines generally allow a complaint within 90 days of the service date or within the period stated in the contract. The complaint should identify the customer or subscriber number, contact details, facts and supporting documents. If the provider does not resolve the matter, contact the LCA through toll-free 101, complaints@lca.org.ls or WhatsApp at 6200 2021, or visit 30 Princess Margaret Road, Old Europa, Maseru. The listed opening hours are Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 12:45 and from 14:00 to 17:00. Complaints may concern connection, billing, faults, delays, renewal, low speed, network availability or lost, missing, damaged or delayed postal and courier items. The LCA may seek an amicable resolution and, where necessary, hold an adjudicatory hearing and issue a decision. Provider-specific complaint procedures may also apply under the contract. Users can expect access to basic communication services, a choice of provider, understandable service and tariff information and consumer protection related to quality. Users should register SIM cards, check contract and tariff conditions, provide accurate identity and contact information and respect complaint deadlines. Coverage gaps, affordability, limited digital skills, SIM locks, forgotten PUK codes, privacy problems and cyber-security threats can interrupt communication even when a service is formally available.