We are excited to welcome the fifth iPRIS cohort, 2025B! From May 4 to 21, regulatory experts from Eswatini, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia will dive into an intensive 2.5-week training, connecting, learning, and growing together for a stronger telecom future in Africa.
The 2025B group will be the fourth English-speaking cohort to participate in the iPRIS project after the third English-speaking group (2024C) participated in their first peer-to-peer learning session in Sweden in November 2024. The 2024C cohort also recently participated in an additional knowledge-sharing experience in Namibia in March 2025. An additional iPRIS cohort, such as the first French-speaking 2024B group, also participated in a similar exercise, meeting in Senegal in February. The first iPRIS cohort 2023A, comprising regulators from Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Eswatini, South Sudan, Zambia, and Sierra Leone, completed their iPRIS cycle in December 2024.
The 2025B cohort will meet for one week after four months in one of the African countries represented in their group for the Africa phase. This week-long meeting will provide a platform for participants to review the progress of their change initiatives, share results, and engage in discussions to enhance their change initiatives further. One year after the round begins (May 2026), the efficacy and progress of the change initiatives implemented by the participating NRAs will be evaluated in partnership with the participating African and European telecom experts.
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).
From March 17-20, iPRIS was in Swakopmund, Namibia, hosted by Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) where our fourth iPRIS cohort, comprising of ICT experts representing National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) from Namibia, Kenya, South Sudan, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and Ghana, took part In the Africa Regional peer to peer knowledge building session. They were also joined by Mr. Anthony Omoshie from the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA | ARTAO) and Mr. Alexis Sinarinzi from the East African Communications Organization (EACO).
Ms Jeanine Du Toit (CRAN Board Member) welcomed the participants to the culturally rich coastal town on the first day of the sessions. Ms Jeanine had valuable insights to offer as she acknowledged the relevance of the iPRIS project.
She noted that “the iPRIS project was conceived as a response to the growing complexities and challenges within the ICT sector, an acknowledgment that the future of our digital economy depends on robust regulatory frameworks, effective policies, and the skilled personnel who will implement them.”
Additionally, the NRAs presented their progress and results regarding the change initiative. Change initiatives are the cornerstone of iPRIS and are specifically designed to align with the strategic agendas of the participating national telecom regulators. They are strategic projects chosen and undertaken by the national regulators to contribute to bridging the digital divide.
The week-long programme provided comprehensive sessions to enhance skills and knowledge across various ICT regulatory topics. Participants engaged in workshops on strategic foresight led by Lars Gustafsson, iPRIS Coordinator at Swedish National Telecom and Post Agency (PTS). Mr. Anthony Omoshie from the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) and Mr. Alexis Sinarinzi from the East African Communications Organization (EACO) offered insights on regional harmonisation aimed at advancing economic and social development in the region.
Kerstin Borglin and Katja Sarajeva from SPIDER led an interactive project management essentials and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) frameworks session engaging participants in hands-on learning to boost program effectiveness and sharpen impact assessment skills. Jens Ingman (Swedish Post and Telecom Authority) also delivered an insightful session on Broadband Mapping, shedding light on critical strategies for improving connectivity. Hans Hedin, also from Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, facilitated a session on strategic foresight and intelligence. Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson (Director, SPIDER) facilitated a session on diversity and inclusion strategies, equipping participants with tools to foster inclusive and equitable environments within their telecom organisations. Ericsson representatives also provided valuable insights on 5 G.
Along the sidelines of the training, the telecom regulators enjoyed a cultural visit with an excursion to the Moonlandscape, experiencing the radiant heart of Namibia.
This cohort will meet in December 2025 for their wrap-up plenary session, which will cover the progress that the National Regulatory Authorities have made within their change initiatives.
Katarina Schyberg, iPRIS Project Lead with CRAN representatives in Swakopmund
Ms Jeanine Du Toit (CRAN Board Member) welcomes the participants to Swakopmund
Participants engaging in discussions during the knowledge-sharing sessions
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).
In this newsletter, you will find updates on the iPRIS project's progress towards boosting the capacities of African telecom regulators, highlights from recent peer-to-peer knowledge sharing sessions and news from the telecommunications landscape. We also share exciting news about upcoming events, including the convening of our fourth iPRIS cohort this November.
Here is the latest update from Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson, the Director of SPIDER. SPIDER coordinates the implementation of the iPRIS project in technical partnership with PTS and ILR. The project is funded by the EU, Sweden and Luxembourg.
Dear Colleagues,
November marks a significant milestone for the iPRIS project as we celebrate one year since the launch of our first capacity-building session in November 2023. In just 12 months, iPRIS has hosted three cohorts, engaging telecom regulators across Anglophone and Francophone Africa. Today, we are proud to collaborate with 21 African telecom authorities to drive meaningful social and economic transformation across the continent.
Currently, around 70 telecom experts from across Africa are taking part in the iPRIS peer-to-peer capacity-building cycle, playing a crucial role in expanding ICT access, fostering innovation, and unlocking development potential in their countries. Between 2023 and 2028, iPRIS aims to boost the capacities of telecom regulators in 43 African countries by creating opportunities for partnerships and tools that break down language barriers and stimulate European and African cooperation within and between continents.
This past September, the iPRIS project held its first-ever iPRIS cycle for a cohort from Francophone Africa. The capacity building covered various topics, including consumer protection, spectrum management, regulatory frameworks, digital inclusion, and spectrum management. Participants also experienced Luxembourg’s cultural sites, including the Lëtzebuerg City Museum and the European Union Court of Justice.
In October, the Africa Regional Follow-Up phase in Dar es Salaam provided a platform for regulators from the second iPRIS cohort to showcase progress on their change initiatives, with sessions on project management, MEAL, cybersecurity, and legacy technology transitions enriched by insights from Ericsson Tanzania.
Looking ahead, from November 10–27th, we are excited to host our fourth iPRIS Cohort in Sweden for intensive 2.5-week peer-to-peer capacity building. Concurrently, the Africa Tech Festival will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 11–14. Be sure to visit stand I68, where the D4D Hub will showcase its private sector advisory group.
In December, we will join the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh, focusing on policy, outreach, and capacity-building initiatives to maximise digital opportunities and address emerging digital risks. Please be sure to visit our booth if you are in attendance!
Thank you for being part of this journey with iPRIS as we work to shape Africa’s digital future.
With kind regards,
Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson
Director, SPIDER
The first-ever iPRIS peer-to-peer capacity building session for a French-speaking cohort was held in Luxembourg from September 8th to September 25th, 2024. Read More
The Africa Regional peer-to-peer capacity-building and knowledge-sharing session for the second iPRIS English cohort was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 7-10 October 2024. The convening reviewed the progress of the change initiatives. It included telecom experts from ICASA South Africa, ICTA Mauritius, LCA Lesotho, PURA The Gambia, TCRA Tanzania, UCC Uganda, PTS, EACO, WATRA, CRASA, as well as SPIDER, and the EU Delegation to Tanzania and Ericsson. Read More
We are excited to welcome the fourth iPRIS cohort, 2024C! From November 10–27, regulatory experts from Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Liberia, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe will dive into an intensive 2.5-week capacity-building, connecting, learning, and growing together for a stronger telecom future in Africa. Read More
At this year’s UN General Assembly, leaders came together to endorse the Pact for the Future, a forward-thinking agreement launched at the United Nations Summit of the Future. Signed on September 22, 2024, the pact lays out a clear path for rolling out advanced telecom systems and bridging digital divides across the globe. Read More
The ICT sector in Zambia continues to serve as a powerful catalyst for economic and social transformation. As highlighted in the 2024 Mid-Year Market Report, significant advancements in telecommunications have driven widespread digital access. Read More
The 22nd Annual Meeting of the French-speaking network for telecommunications regulation (Fratel) will take place in Libreville, Gabon, from November 26 to 27, 2024. Hosted by Gabon's Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation Authority (ARCEP), this year’s gathering will focus on the theme: “Future Business Models and Strategies for Telecom Operators.”Fratel, the French-speaking telecommunications regulation network created in 2003, aims to contribute to training and collaboration between its members.
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