iPRIS at ONE: Celebrating a year of progress

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.

Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson, Director, SPIDER

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

iPRIS Ignites Change with First iPRIS cycle for Francophone Africa

Group photo of the first cohort of iPRIS delegates from Fracophone Africa at the European court in Luxembourg.

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 knowledge sharing session - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, October 2024

Group photo of the delegates in Dar es Salaam.

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

Welcoming the fourth iPRIS cohort, paving the way for a more connected Africa

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

UN Summit of the Future: Advancing Telecommunications and Digital Inclusion

Summit of the future outcome documents (source UN)

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

ZICTA releases the 2024 mid-year market report

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

French telecom regulators to meet in Gabon for the 22nd Fratel Annual Meeting 2024

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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