The National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana hosted a high-level delegation from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) from 28 to 30 May 2025 in Accra. This is a strategic exchange that showcases the building blocks behind regional collaboration among National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and the shared commitment to universal access on the continent.

The visit, with a focal point on Ghana's implementation of universal access concepts, further reinforces a strong bilateral relationship between the country and South Africa. ICASA's visit to Ghana was aimed at learning from the country's holistic, multi-stakeholder approach to developing broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved communities through the NCA.

Rev. Ing. Edmund Y. Fianko, Acting Director General of NCA, reaffirmed that West-South cooperation remains of immense value in innovative regulation. Additionally, he stated that Ghana's success factors reside in sustainable financing mechanisms and inter-agency collaboration. The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is one of the critical pillars of Ghana's strategy and is funded through a 1% contribution from the revenues of licensed operators. This model has facilitated the rollout of 2G and 3G mobile infrastructure services in underserved areas, thereby promoting digital inclusion and greater access to voice and data services.

According to ICASA Board Member Councillor Cathrine Mushi, the visit was crucial for South Africa's Vision 2030, which aims for universal access to broadband. She acknowledged that South Africa faces structural challenges—legal and regulatory fragmentation being the primary concern—and expressed interest in Ghana's enabling frameworks and implementation options.

The other delegate at the visit was Mr Eric Nkopodi, Senior Manager of Engineering and Technology at ICASA, who emphasised that South Africa continues to focus on refining deployment frameworks, rights-of-way, dispute resolution, and rural infrastructure assessments. Coordinated institutional efforts being undertaken in Ghana provide practical insights to South Africa on its ongoing regulatory reforms. 

During the three-day visit, the ICASA delegation met with key stakeholders, including GIFEC, American Tower Company, West Africa Cable System (WACS), and local government representatives, who provided a well-rounded view of the technical and policy environment underpinning Ghana's progress towards digital inclusion. 

Not only does this benchmarking visit lend weight to the ongoing need for peer learning, but it also demonstrates how universal access can be accelerated through inter-agency coordination, sustainable funding, and regional knowledge exchange. This serves as a reminder that Africa-led solutions remain pivotal in setting the technological course for the continent.

The Europe Phase of the fifth iPRIS cohort (2025B) officially concluded in Stockholm on 21 May 2025, marking a critical milestone in the iPRIS peer-learning journey. Over a two-and-a-half-week period, regulatory ICT experts from six African National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs)—Eswatini (ESCCOM), Sierra Leone (NatCA), Nigeria (NCC), Tanzania (TCRA), Uganda (UCC), and Zambia (ZICTA)—collaborated alongside representatives from Regional Regulatory Organisations - RROs (WATRA | L'ARTAO, EACO, and CRASA) and their European counterparts.

The cohort underwent rigorous peer learning aimed at reinforcing regulatory frameworks, supporting inclusive digital governance, and correlating national ICT strategies with international standards while preserving in-country relevance.

Week 1 highlights: Transforming policy through insight and peer learning

The opening week of the programme laid the ground by way of strategic dialogue and institutional exchange. NRAs presented their Change Initiative. The Change Initiatives are conceived as vehicles for system-level change to bridge the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The discussions during the first week also underscored Sweden’s regulatory shift to broadband and mobile termination, aligning with the EU’s broader legislative frameworks. The rise of digital services like WhatsApp continues to disrupt traditional telecom markets, as discussed by Fred Capper from the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS).

Katarina Schyberg (PTS) moderated day 2 sessions with an introduction to the iPRIS Learning Management System by Petra Rindby from SPIDER. The cohort then explored the Swedish regulatory context in depth through:

• A presentation on the Development of the Swedish Regulatory Market by Fredrik Kapper (PTS)
• A two-part session on the Joint European Offer: Institutional and Legal Frameworks, delivered by Per Andersson and Fredrik Kapper (PTS)
• A project management session led by Malena Liedholm Ndounou (SPIDER)

Our 3rd day kicked off with Andreas Wigren from PTS unpacking Sweden’s broadband strategy—highlighting how a market-driven approach, supported by strategic public investment, has shaped nationwide connectivity. Jens Ingman followed with insights into Sweden’s broadband mapping project, which has collected geospatial data annually since 2007 to support evidence-based policy.

In the final session, spectrum management took centre stage. Amela Hatibovic Sehic, Gustav Lenninger, and Fredrik Johansson of PTS shared Sweden’s approach to frequency planning, auctions, and international coordination—emphasising societal value over revenue.

On Day 4, AnnaLena Sandberg and Lisa Ljungqvist led sessions on end-user protection and digital inclusion through the lens of the Swedish Electronic Communications Act. This was followed by detailed discussions on numbering and addressing by Claes Hultholm and Jesper Simons.

Day 5 began with a focus on secure communications and cybersecurity, led by Per-Erik Vitasp, Gustav Söderlind, and Joakim Aspengren. They outlined Sweden’s regulatory requirements around availability, integrity, confidentiality, and privacy in telecoms.

In session two, Peter Thörnqvist guided a discussion on future-facing regulatory challenges. The day closed with Part 1 of a Project Management session by Malena Liedholm Ndounou from SPIDER, before the group headed out to explore Stockholm on the iconic Ocean Bus.

Week 2 highlights: Building collective capacity for inclusive connectivity

In the second week, regional and cross-continental cooperation further intensified through ideation circles, peer-to-peer presentations, and immersive site visits, including engagements with Ericsson and STOKAB, thereby providing the participants with hands-on insights into telecom infrastructure and data-driven policy design.

Day 1 started with thought-provoking discussions moderated by Katarina Schyberg from PTS. Astrid Olofsson and Björn Backgård led the first session on competition regulation in the telecommunication market, highlighting the importance of economic regulation to prevent monopolies and promote innovation. The session also provided insight into the four-step methodology for regulated markets and the three-criteria test that assesses barriers to entry, market trends and competition law sufficiency. 

The second part of the day was held at SPIDER HQ in Stockholm University, and the first session, "Beyond Universal Access", was led by Caroline Wamala Larsson and Malena Liedholm-Ndounou from SPIDER, which challenged them to reimagine access as more than just connectivity. The role of diversity, equity and inclusion in achieving inclusive connectivity was also highlighted. 

The other "Beyond Universal Access" sessions discussed challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa's mobile access, highlighting a 61% usage gap and emphasising the need for gender-responsive policies and digital literacy programs to address these gaps.

Day 2 sessions were peer-learning circles where African and European counterparts hold discussions together. The perspectives from the experts and team-based ideation drove dynamic participation, proving that when leaders learn together, systems change simultaneously. WATRA | L'ARTAO, CRASA, and EACO, also gave an update, reinforcing the critical role of regional structure in shaping Africa's digital culture.

Day 3 began with a full day of Industry learning experience at Ericsson, exposing participants to advanced telecom technology and real-world infrastructure, detailing insights into emerging digital infrastructure forms.

Day 4 was focused on MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning), with Katja Sarajeva from SPIDER underscoring the importance of evaluation frameworks in digital policy interventions. Thereafter, the final modules of Project Management took place, and Kerstin Borglin and Malena Liedholm Ndounou guided participants in drawing up implementation plans. The day ended with a networking cruise around the Stockholm archipelago, allowing participants to reset after the intensive sessions and interact with peers in the sector.

The rest of the day today was dedicated to part two of "Beyond Universal Access" with Caroline Wamala Larsson and Malena Liedholm Ndounou from SPIDER and covered inclusive access strategies beyond just connectivity, with a focus on gender-responsive policy and digital literacy initiatives. The day ended with a study visit to Stokab, where the participants acquired hands-on exposure to Stockholm’s public fiber infrastructure.

Week 3 highlights: From vision to action

The closing week of this convening centered around strategic project planning and readiness for implementation. Key highlights from Day 1 and 2 included:

• The project plan development presentations, supported by the African Regional Telecom Regulators (WATRA | L'ARTAO, EACO, CRASA) and the European peers.
• An industry session led by Anders Brandter from Forsway Scandinavia delved into broadband deployment and other related discussions.
• The strategic planning (Project Management and Project Plan Development) workshops facilitated by Kerstin Borglin & Malena Liedholm Ndounou from SPIDER, focusing on resilience, impact and local ownership.

The cohort ended with each team discussing their Change Initiative project plans in an extensive and highly insightful 'Way Forward' session, setting the stage for measurable transformation leading into the Africa regional phase later this year. The outputs from this phase now feed into the next phase of the iPRIS cycle: the Africa Regional Phase (later this year), where the peer learning continues in contextualised form and Change Initiatives edge closer to operational implementation.

Watch the video highlights from Sweden below

Here are some photo highlights from Sweden

Peer-to-peer discussions during the round among African and European counterparts

iPRIS participants follow discussions from peer experts during the round

Peer-to-peer discussions during the round among African and European counterparts

iPRIS participants follow discussions from peer experts during the round

"Beyond Universal Access" presentation with Caroline Wamala Larsson and Malena Liedholm Ndounou from SPIDER

Peer-to-peer discussions during the round among African and European counterparts

Peer-to-peer discussions during the round among African and European counterparts

iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR).

iPRIS is funded by the European Union, Sweden, and Luxembourg as part of the Team Europe Initiative “D4D for Digital Economy and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa” (Code: 001).

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and SPIDER have extended their strategic collaboration in the iPRIS Project, reaffirming a mutual commitment toward inclusive and sustainable digital development in Africa. The latest engagement, hosted by CA on May 7th, aimed to enhance cooperation in strengthening regulatory capacity, promoting policy innovation, and fostering regional alignment. From CA, SPIDER was welcomed by the Director General, Mr David Mugonyi, Patricia Kerretts - Kemei, Mr Fred Onchoka (from the 2023A cohort), and Mr Dominic Ooko (from the 2024C cohort).

Collaboration remains a foundation of the iPRIS project, which aims to strengthen digitalisation via African-led and context-centred solutions. Since the first ITP programme (2016–2022), CA has remained a competent partner, leading in advancing regulatory best practices with technical expertise and a sincere commitment to gender-inclusive issues. The first iPRIS cohort, 2023A, featured CA and they are now alumnus, having completed their cycle in Nov 2024. The current CA participants are in the fourth iPRIS cohort, 2024C, and they are soon to complete their cycle later this year. 

Read more about what the 2024C cohort has been up to here

Among the key discussion points during this engagement were:

- The need to frame national regulatory instruments in alignment with prevailing trends in regional and global digital transformation;

- The promotion of local ownership, rooted in national development strategies; and

- The use of data and evidence to make informed choices on policies and universal service activities.

SPIDER and CA discuss matters of digital advancement

Strategic Alignment Leads to Tangible Results

CA mentioned the implementation of fibre deployment guidelines and works having been done on an access gap study, the outcome of which will ensure that universal service funding and infrastructure planning are more effective. Such outcomes are what iPRIS participants look forward to.

SPIDER, as coordinator and implementing partner of iPRIS, pointed to the necessity of institutional alignment and long-term capacity building. According to SPIDER, "the success of iPRIS depends on local leadership and embedding the project's objectives into national strategic priorities."

From left: The Director General of CA, Mr David Mugonyi joined by Mr Dominic Ooko, Patricia Kerretts - Kemei, and Mr Fred Onchoka during discussions with SPIDER

A Platform for Leadership in Digital Policy

The CA-SPIDER partnership continues to assist African regulators in adapting to technological change and in shaping it. In this ever-changing environment for digital policies, institutions must be agile, well-informed, and collaborative. iPRIS thus serves as a key institutional-building platform.

As the future iterations of iPRIS unfold, CA Kenya remains a critical stakeholder, securing Kenya's leadership in regional regulatory excellence and the advancement of inclusive digital development.

iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR).

iPRIS is funded by the European Union, Sweden, and Luxembourg as part of the Team Europe Initiative “D4D for Digital Economy and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa” (Code: 001).