By Prof. Caroline Wamala-Larsson 

Having lived in Sweden for more than two decades, I have seen what coordinated telecommunications policy can achieve. 

I remember arriving late one winter evening in Brussels for a conference. The city was unfamiliar, the streets quiet, and I was unsure how to get to my hotel. Standing at the station, I called my husband in Stockholm. Using online maps, he guided me step by step until I arrived safely. Across Europe, connectivity follows the user, not the border. Whether travelling from Sweden to Norway or further south to Spain, my phone works as if I never left home. Calls cost the same, networks are seamless, and the experience is largely invisible.

This is not accidental. It is the result of regulatory cooperation across borders and countries choosing to prioritise affordable, reliable connectivity for their citizens. In many parts of Africa, particularly along border regions, the reality is very different.

Across sub-Saharan Africa, border communities function as shared social and economic spaces rather than clear divides. Trade, family ties, and daily movement flow across boundaries that were colonially imposed rather than socially defined. Yet mobile networks do not reflect this reality. Phones frequently latch onto foreign signals without warning, triggering roaming charges or service disruptions. For many, this is not just inconvenient it is costly.

Consider Nana Mensah, a small bakery owner in Aflao, a town along the Ghana–Togo border. Her business relies heavily on mobile connectivity to coordinate with customers, place orders with suppliers, and manage deliveries. Yet even within a small radius, her phone may connect to a neighbouring country’s network instead.

The impact goes beyond her alone. Her customers struggle to reach her, orders are delayed or missed, and communication with suppliers of key ingredients becomes inconsistent. Transport arrangements become harder to coordinate, especially when timing is critical. Over time, these disruptions translate into fluctuating orders, unpredictable sales, and reduced business stability.

Each unintended network switch brings additional costs, but more importantly, it introduces uncertainty into a business that depends on reliability. 

Similar dynamics play out across East Africa. For cross-border traders in Busia, transport operators in Namanga, or small businesses operating along regional corridors, connectivity is not optional it is a lifeline. It enables mobile payments, access to market information,  coordination of  medical teams. When networks fail or become expensive, productivity is directly affected.

From 9 to 12 March 2026, telecom regulators and experts convened in Accra, Ghana, under the iPRIS peer-to-peer programme, building on earlier exchanges held in Sweden in November 2025. The convening brought together national regulatory authorities from across Africa alongside regional bodies and international partners.

A key takeaway was clear: while mobile network coverage has expanded significantly across the continent, affordability and reliability particularly in border regions remain uneven. Encouragingly, practical solutions are emerging.

In Ghana, telecom regulators from the National Communication Authority-Ghana translated this challenge into a consumer awareness pilot in Aflao, helping residents understand how to configure their phones to avoid unintended cross-border roaming. 

At a broader level, regional cooperation is beginning to reshape the landscape. In Southern Africa, the One Network Area (ONA) framework is demonstrating what is possible when regulators align. Countries including Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi have begun harmonising roaming tariffs, with reductions ranging from 10% to over 90% across voice, data, and SMS services. Early evidence suggests that lower prices can drive higher usage, offsetting potential revenue losses.

Closer to home, the East African Community’s ONA initiative has also made progress, significantly reducing roaming costs by treating cross-border communication within partner states almost as local calls. For businesses operating across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and beyond, this has begun to ease the cost of staying connected.

What is needed now is a more intentional shift: from isolated reforms to fully integrated regional connectivity frameworks. First, regulators must accelerate harmonisation across regional blocs to ensure consistency in pricing, service quality, and consumer protection. Fragmentation undermines progress.

Second, policy must reflect the lived realities of border communities. Connectivity is experienced differently across gender, age, and income levels. For informal traders and small enterprises, even small cost fluctuations can have significant consequences.

Third, connectivity must be recognised as economic infrastructure. Cross-border trade, digital finance, and regional integration all depend on reliable communication. Addressing roaming challenges is therefore central to unlocking intra-African trade.

Finally, multi-stakeholder collaboration will be key. Regulators, telecom operators, regional organisations, and development partners must align to scale solutions.

Because connectivity is not only about communication it is also about safety, dignity, and participation.The ability to reach someone whether for business, emergency support, or simple reassurance should never depend on whether your phone has crossed into another network.

The iPRIS programme enters its second year with the launch of the eighth cohort, bringing together regulators from Liberia, Namibia, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. From 13th April 2026 to 29th April 2026, the regulators will spend three weeks in Stockholm, Sweden, to collaborate, implement their change initiatives, refine national reform plans, and exchange lessons to strengthen Africa’s digital future. They will also be joined by other telecom experts from regional regulatory organisations (RROs): the East African Communications Organisation (EACO), the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), and the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), who will share lessons from regional cooperation frameworks.

The digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa

Over the past decade, Sub‑Saharan Africa has shown remarkable growth in digital access. Internet use has continued to rise, with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimating that by 2025 around 36% of the region’s population was online. Mobile broadband has been the main driver of this progress, and the GSMA reports that more than 400 million people in Africa now use mobile internet, a figure expected to grow as 4G and 5G networks expand.

However, the digital divide still needs to be bridged; millions remain offline, particularly in rural areas where affordability and digital skills remain barriers. This gap is not just about connectivity; it is about access to education, healthcare, financial services, and opportunities that depend on being digitally included.

iPRIS aims to advance telecom regulation in Sub-Saharan Africa to improve the aforementioned sectors. By equipping regulators with the tools to design inclusive policies, manage spectrum effectively, and promote affordable access, iPRIS helps ensure that connectivity gains translate into real opportunities for citizens. Progress is being made, but reaching the goal of universal access will require sustained collaboration, and iPRIS is part of that journey.

Expanding the network: A growing community of regulators

Since its inception in November 2023, the iPRIS programme has evolved into a dynamic platform for peer learning and regional cooperation. Initially a pilot initiative and a successor of the ITP program, it has now supported over 120 telecom regulators across 33 African countries, advancing inclusive, evidence-based approaches to ICT policy and regulation.

iPRIS has convened cohorts in Europe and Africa, each contributing to a broader knowledge ecosystem. Regulators have shared best practices, piloted reforms, and built sustainable partnerships, accelerating the continent’s digital transformation. With the Lusophone cycle in the planning phase this year, the iPRIS network will continue to connect major NRAs across Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve their regulatory objectives, both nationally and regionally. 

With the eighth cohort, iPRIS further expands its footprint, adding new experiences and perspectives from participants. This collaborative model has engaged over 200 telecom experts, strengthening institutional capacity, improving policy coherence, and bridging regional divides in digital governance. By 2028, the programme aims to have trained over 300 regulators from 43 National Regulatory Authorities, embedding reforms that make Africa’s digital future more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.

Progress across nations: Impact stories

The eighth iPRIS cohort is not starting from scratch; each participating regulator arrives with a track record of reforms already reshaping their national digital landscapes. From rural connectivity projects to regional roaming agreements, from cybersecurity enforcement to inclusive ICT training, these initiatives show how regulation is driving real progress for citizens and businesses. Together, they illustrate the diverse ways African regulators are bridging the digital divide and building a more resilient digital environment.

Liberia: 

Liberia’s digital journey is gathering pace, and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has been at the centre of it. Over the past year, the regulator has pushed forward ambitious plans to modernise the country’s connectivity landscape. At the Liberia Infrastructure Conference, LTA showcased opportunities in 5G networks, fibre‑to‑the‑home rollout, and the Amílcar Cabral undersea cable, signalling a clear intent to attract private investment and accelerate digital transformation. These projects are not just about technology; they are about positioning Liberia as a competitive hub in West Africa’s digital economy.

On the ground, the impact is visible. In Vahun, Lofa County, a new communications tower has brought mobile coverage to thousands who previously struggled to connect. For schools, satellite internet kits are being deployed to support digital learning, opening doors for children in rural areas to access the same resources as their peers in Monrovia. LTA has also convened forums to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind, engaging operators and community leaders to improve accessibility and accountability.

At the same time, Liberia is strengthening its digital backbone. By participating in the National Peering Forum, LTA has advanced the country’s Internet Exchange Point, reducing costs and improving speeds for everyday users. Internationally, the regulator has been active at events like the TikTok Safer Internet Summit in Nairobi and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, bringing home insights on cybersecurity, consumer protection, and innovation.

Namibia: 

Namibia’s regulator, CRAN, has been steadily working to bring connectivity to communities that have long been underserved. In recent months, new telecommunications towers have gone up in villages like Epinga and Ehomba, funded through the Universal Service Fund. For residents, this has meant the arrival of reliable voice and data services for the first time, opening doors to better schooling, healthcare access, and local business opportunities.

At the same time, CRAN is preparing the country for the next generation of networks. Plans are underway to transition from older 2G and 3G systems to more efficient 4G and 5G technologies. This shift is not just about faster speeds, it’s about ensuring that Namibia’s infrastructure can support modern digital services and give citizens the tools to participate fully in the digital economy.

The regulator has also invested in community empowerment. At the Khomasdal Rossing and Otjomuise libraries, CRAN donated computers and provided free internet access, enabling thousands of people to study, conduct research, and apply for jobs online. For many students and job seekers, these libraries have become gateways to opportunity, with high‑speed internet transforming how they learn and connect with employers.

CRAN has also been strengthening Namibia’s resilience in the digital space. Through its national Computer Security Incident Response Team (NAM‑CSIRT), the regulator hosted training on DNS resilience — essentially teaching stakeholders how to protect the “address book” of the internet from cyberattacks and disruptions. This kind of capacity building ensures that as Namibia expands its networks, it also safeguards them against threats.

Mauritius: 

Mauritius has often been perceived as a digital leader in the Indian Ocean, and the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) has been steering this transformation with a mix of innovation and regulation. In recent months, ICTA authorised the use of non‑geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) broadband services, requiring providers to operate through locally licensed ISPs (Internet Service Providers). This decision reflects a careful balance: opening the door to new technologies while ensuring orderly market entry and benefits for local players. It is a move that expands connectivity options, particularly for remote communities, while maintaining a strong regulatory framework.

ICTA has also opened the 700 MHz frequency band for testing and operation of IMT networks, including 5G. This step signals the country’s readiness to embrace next‑generation connectivity and ensure spectrum is used efficiently. For citizens, it means faster, more reliable services and the potential for new digital applications that can drive economic growth.

The regulator’s decisions are felt directly in everyday life. In the Agalega Islands, a remote dependency of Mauritius, ICTA has supported projects under the Universal Service Fund to enhance internet connectivity. For residents there, improved access means better communication with the mainland, opportunities for online learning, and access to essential services that were previously out of reach. Another regulatory change in Mauritius is the revocation of SIM registration rules that required identity documentation. This has reshaped how mobile users interact with their services, making access simpler and more flexible.

Sierra Leone: 

Sierra Leone’s regulator, NatCA, has been weaving regional cooperation and consumer protection into its digital transformation story. One of the most significant developments has been the cross‑border agreement with Guinea to introduce free mobile roaming. For traders, students, and families living near the border, this has meant using their home SIM cards without extra charges, reducing costs and making communication seamless across two countries. 

NatCA has also been working to strengthen connectivity between Sierra Leone and Guinea through a memorandum of understanding on internet interconnection. By linking networks across borders, the regulator is ensuring faster, more reliable services and laying the groundwork for a more connected West Africa.

Additionally, NatCA has also been active in consumer education. Public awareness campaigns have reached citizens through radio, television, newspapers, and social media, focusing on phishing prevention, safe mobile money practices, and data privacy. These efforts are particularly targeted at youth and rural communities, helping them build resilience against cyber threats and strengthening trust in digital services.

The regulator’s presence is felt beyond technical reforms. During Ramadan and Lent, NatCA donated food to religious institutions in Freetown and surrounding communities, demonstrating that its role extends to social support and community engagement. At the same time, Sierra Leone’s voice has been heard regionally, with NatCA’s Director‑General, Mr Amara Brewah, participating in the Smart Africa Council of Regulators, reinforcing the country’s place in continental ICT dialogue.

Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe’s regulator, POTRAZ, has been shaping the country’s digital landscape by placing cybersecurity and accountability at the centre of its agenda. In recent months, it has called out organisations that continue to process personal data without the required licences under the Cyber and Data Protection Act. By insisting on compliance, POTRAZ is reinforcing trust in the digital ecosystem and ensuring that citizens’ information is handled in a lawful manner. This push for accountability is complemented by awareness‑raising initiatives, such as the Annual Data Privacy Symposium, which brings together stakeholders to discuss privacy as the foundation for innovation and trust in a digital economy.

At the same time, Zimbabwe has been investing in people and communities. Through its ICT Scholarship programme, students across the country are gaining opportunities to advance their education in technology and build the skills needed for the future workforce. In rural areas, more than 200 community information centres have been established, bringing internet access and government services closer to citizens, including the elderly and underserved populations. For many, these centres have become vital spaces for learning, communication, and participation in the digital economy.

POTRAZ has also positioned Zimbabwe within global and regional conversations. By participating in forums such as WSIS+20 and AI for Good, the regulator has engaged with international peers on issues ranging from ethical AI to inclusive infrastructure. Hosting regional workshops on emergency telecommunications and early warning systems further demonstrates Zimbabwe’s role in building resilience across Southern Africa.

Tanzania: 

TCRA, has been driving digital inclusion with a strong focus on safety, accessibility, and empowerment. One of its most visible initiatives has been the launch of a nationwide short-code service, 15040, that allows citizens to report suspicious messages and verify unknown phone numbers. For millions of mobile money users, this simple tool has become a shield against fraud, giving them confidence to engage in digital services without fear of being exploited.

TCRA has also taken a creative approach to tackling misinformation. Through the “FUTA DELETE KABISA” campaign, launched during the International Week of the Deaf, citizens were educated on how to identify and avoid false information online. Importantly, the campaign included sign language interpretation, ensuring that members of the deaf community could fully participate. This emphasis on inclusivity shows how regulation can empower even the most marginalised groups to engage safely in the digital space.

The regulator’s commitment to empowerment extends to young women. In collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and IT, UCSAF, and the ICT Commission, TCRA organised practical ICT training for girls with special needs from secondary schools in Dodoma. These sessions equipped them with STEM and digital skills, inspiring them to pursue careers in technology and equipping them to design solutions to social challenges in their communities.

Regionally, Tanzania has positioned itself as a leader by hosting the ITU Subregional Workshop in Dar es Salaam, bringing together experts from across Africa to discuss universal and meaningful connectivity. TCRA has also been reviewing the postal sector’s legal framework to align with sustainability goals and support e‑commerce, while backing local innovators in global competitions like the G20 Digital Innovation Challenge.

Highlights: A three‑week collaboration

The eighth iPRIS cohort will take part in an intensive three‑week peer-learning in Stockholm, designed to blend expert‑led sessions, collaborative project work, and immersive field visits. The schedule connects theory with practice, ensuring that regulators refine their change initiatives by learning from European peers and from one another.

The discussions will revolve around these components:

• Joint European Offer (JEO) sessions led by experts from the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and partners, covering topics such as institutional and legal frameworks, secure communications, numbering and addressing, spectrum management, end‑user protection, broadband deployment and mapping, competition regulation, and new regulatory issues.
• Project management and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) workshops facilitated by SPIDER, strengthening participants’ ability to design, monitor, and implement their Change Initiatives.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sessions led by SPIDER.
• Strategic Foresight sessions led by PTS.
• Field visits to leading institutions and industry players, including PTS headquarters, Stockholm University, Ericsson, Telia, and Ernst & Young. These visits will showcase models of innovation, governance, and private‑sector collaboration.
• Collaborative exchanges with Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs), who will present their projects and share lessons from regional cooperation frameworks.
• Networking and cultural events, including a visit to The Royal Palace, a networking dinner, and an Easter dinner at the hotel, to foster cooperation and build lasting professional relationships.

Throughout the period, each NRA will continue to improve its Change Initiative, a national reform plan aimed at strengthening institutional performance and making the regulatory environment sustainable and inclusive.

Read about the iPRIS seventh cohort sessions in Sweden here 

This European phase marks only the beginning of the journey. The regulators will reconvene later this year at the Africa round, where they will share lessons learned, assess progress on their Change Initiatives, and continue building momentum for inclusive digital transformation. By returning to the continent, the programme ensures that the knowledge gained in Stockholm is translated into action at home, reinforcing the commitment to bridge the digital divide and advance Africa’s digital future together.

iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and Institut luxembourgeois de régulation (ILR), as well as ARTAC, CRASA, EACO, and WATRA.

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).

From 9 to 12 March 2026, telecom experts reconvened in Accra, Ghana, for their iPRIS round after initially meeting in Sweden. The four-day session brought together national regulatory authorities (NRAs) from the National Communications Authority of Ghana (NCA Ghana), Communications Authority of Kenya (CA Kenya), Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA  Botswana), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA Lesotho), and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority of The Gambia (PURA Gambia), with Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA Malawi) joining online to advance Change Initiatives (CIs) from policy concepts to practical regulatory action. 

They were joined by implementing partners, SPIDER and the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), representatives of the European Union and regional regulatory organisations, including Communications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), East African Communications Organisation (EACO) and West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA).

Across Africa, telecom experts are working to bridge the digital divide and support the development of inclusive digital economies. Globally, an estimated 6 billion people – about three-quarters of the world's population – are using the Internet in 2025, up from a revised estimate of 5.8 billion in 2024. However, 2.2 billion people remain offline, down from a revised estimate of 2.3 billion in 2024 (ITU, 2025). Although mobile networks now cover about 95% of Africa’s population, only around 40% actively use mobile internet. This widening usage gap, driven by high device costs, limited digital literacy and access barriers, remains one of the continent’s greatest connectivity challenges (GSMA, 2025). These findings highlight the critical role of telecom regulators in expanding digital access, particularly for underserved communities.  

By strengthening regulatory frameworks in areas such as affordability, spectrum management, consumer protection, and digital inclusion, these efforts aim to improve access to affordable connectivity, digital services and economic opportunities for citizens across participating countries. The Ghana round, therefore, focused on reviewing progress on Change Initiatives while strengthening regional regulatory collaboration.

As part of the iPRIS structured peer-learning cycle, the Ghana round marked the transition from planning to implementation. Following the comprehensive knowledge-exchange sessions in Sweden in November 2025, telecom experts reconvened to assess progress on their CIs, share policy experiences, and refine implementation strategies. The daily sessions focused on three key areas: reviewing progress on CIs; strengthening regulatory capacity through expert-led sessions on strategic foresight, digital inclusion and project management; enhancing regional cooperation through peer-learning sessions; and Way forward presentations concerning CIs.

Day 1: From commitment to progress: Regulators advance Change Initiatives

The day began with opening remarks from Rev. Ing. Edmund Fianko, Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), and Gisela Spreitzhofer, the EU delegation to Ghana. Their speeches focused on the benefits of connectivity, especially for development sectors, the digital transformation journey in Africa, and the change initiatives of NRAs, setting a collaborative tone for the week’s work. As Rev. Ing. Edmund Fianko emphasised:

From mid-morning onward, the NRAs presented progress on their CIs, marking the first day of immense collaboration and peer-learning. These initiatives aimed to strengthen digital systems, expand digital access, improve service quality and prepare regulators for emerging technologies. Key topics covered include spectrum policy development, broadband access and community connectivity, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), AI governance readiness, satellite regulation, and consumer protection. 

This session demonstrated how regulators are moving beyond policy discussions to implement practical solutions that not only improve digital technologies but also ensure citizens benefit from inclusive connectivity. Day one provided a platform for peer learning as regulators shared experiences, challenges and solutions across countries. Through these, telecom experts not only made significant progress in the digital sector but also enhanced their institutional capacity to manage evolving digital markets effectively.

Day 2:  Strengthening regulatory capacity through shared learning

On day 2, the Ghana round went beyond CIs and focused on strengthening the regulators strategic capacity and technical expertise through expert-led presentations and discussions. The participants were first introduced to the strategic foresight methodology by Hans Hedin (PTS). A tool that aims to anticipate trends and emerging technologies and to strategically plan for forward-looking regulations. Hans Hedin noted: 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Given that digital inclusivity is central to the iPRIS project, a session on inclusivity by Dr Caroline Wamala Larrson and Dr Cheikh Sadibou Sakho (SPIDER) was much needed. Emphasising the significance of community engagement to regulation, Dr Cheikh noted:

The presentation highlighted the need for regulators to view regulation as a social construct that affects real people with needs, shaped by social power dynamics.  Through approaches such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and gender-responsive strategies, participants were exposed to practical strategies to expand connectivity with underserved populations and promote equitable access across communities. As Dr Caroline Wamala Larrson noted:

Project Management and MEAL

Petra Rindby (SPIDER) led a session on Project Management and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL). This served as a guide for NRAs on how to tackle their projects to ensure alignment with their change initiatives. She further emphasised the importance of commitment and belief in the process: 

Throughout the presentations, participants engaged in discussions and projects that implemented these strategies, enhancing their problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.

The highlight of the day was the presentation titled “Smart Borders, Fair Billings” by NCA Ghana alumnus from the fourth iPRIS cohort. This session highlighted that border communities often experience the practical consequences of regulatory gaps, and addressing roaming challenges requires technical solutions and regulatory cooperation. 

Their presentation offered practical insights into roaming regulations and the challenges faced during implementation, particularly at the Ghana-Togo border. Participants explored real-world challenges affecting border communities, where mobile users often face unexpected charges, signal spillover, and inconsistent roaming services due to gaps in regulatory coordination.

Throughout the evening, participants shared experiences, challenges, and technical solutions from their own countries. Some of the challenges raised affecting border communities include automatic roaming in border towns, unexpected consumer charges, cross-border spillover and the need for effective regulatory coordination between neighbouring countries. It was a session that reflected the true knowledge-sharing aspect of iPRIS as the seventh cohort learned from practical examples of their African peers.

Day 3: Advancing digital cooperation through regional collaboration

iPRIS provides a platform for telecom experts to collaborate beyond borders. Through the Ghana round, NRAs interacted with RROs and European experts to address shared challenges in Africa’s telecom ecosystem.

Mr Kristof Itana (CRASA), Ms Anuoluwapo Atte (WATRA), and Mr Andrew Changa (EACO) led participants through individual CIs discussions, sharing insights on regional projects, challenges, and solutions that support national telecom advancements.

These exchanges not only provided a learning ground for NRAs but also highlighted iPRIS efforts in providing regional expertise to national regulators and strengthening regulatory capacity.

Through regional cooperation, iPRIS ensures that regulatory initiatives are practical and cater to the needs of citizens across countries.

Day 4: From progress to implementation: Defining the way forward

The last day of the Ghana round focused on translating lessons into actionable projects. Through this session, telecom experts went beyond planning and applied the knowledge gained to strategies that strengthen national telecom ecosystems and emphasise regional learning. The Way forward session offered a platform for each NRA to present on the next steps for their CIs, informed by insights from the previous day's guidance and shared learning.  In detail, each NRA presented the scopes, methodologies, challenges, expected outcomes, and outputs of the implementation process for the CIs. From the presentations, the goal was clear: to enable inclusive digital connectivity and markets, and protect consumers across participating countries.  

The Ghana round reinforced the iPRIS core mission, which aims to boost the Capacities of African telecom regulators through peer-to-peer learning, thereby helping NRAs strengthen and build inclusive digital systems. By bringing together national regulators and regional organisations, the Ghana round highlighted how regional collaboration enables harmonised digital development, helping countries align with regulatory standards and effective practices. As Keamogetse Mmokele from Botswana reflected on the value of the programme: 

The Ghana round marks one of the many phases in the iPRIS project. As iPRIS continues to collaborate with NRAs in the next phases of their CIs, equipping regulators with knowledge and capacity to address evolving digital challenges and drive sustainable, inclusive digital transformation across Africa remains central to the programme. 

iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and Institut luxembourgeois de régulation (ILR), as well as ARTAC, CRASA, EACO, and WATRA.

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).