The iPRIS project turns two this November! The seventh iPRIS cohort will mark a significant milestone in the peer-to-peer capacity-building programme targeting telecom regulators across 43 countries.

This cohort will meet in Stockholm, Sweden, from November 16 to December 3, 2025, for their first phase in the project. The delegates will include telecom regulators from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, The Gambia, and Sweden. They will also be joined by other African ICT 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. All these participants will collaborate and engage in meaningful discussions across the three weeks to improve institutional capacity, regulatory cooperation, and inclusive digital development. 

Two years of collaboration and growth

Since its inception in November 2023, the iPRIS programme has evolved into a dynamic platform for peer learning and regional cooperation. To date, it has supported over 120 telecom regulators across 31 African countries, advancing inclusive, evidence-based approaches to ICT policy and regulation.

So far, iPRIS has engaged 31 NRAs across Sub-Saharan Africa, including:
Benin, Burundi, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Equatorial Guinea.

The incoming countries joining the seventh cohort will bring this number to 32 countries, reflecting the programme’s expanding footprint and its growing community of regulators committed to strengthening Africa’s digital future. Through its collaborative model, iPRIS has engaged more than 200 telecom experts from Africa and Europe, fostering continuous exchange between National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs), and European partners. This growing network continues to strengthen institutional leadership, improve policy coherence, and bridge regional divides in digital governance. Each cohort contributes to a broader ecosystem of knowledge, where African regulators share best practices, pilot reforms, and build sustainable partnerships that collectively accelerate the continent’s digital transformation.

Below is a snapshot of some of the telecom experts and regulators that have been part of the journey so far

Progress within the region

The impact is already visible. In Tanzania, regulators pioneered Direct-to-Mobile Satellite Guidelines, extending connectivity to remote areas. In Mozambique, a Change Initiative grew into a national roaming regulation that allows rural families to remain connected even when one network fails. In Mauritius, regulators are safeguarding the digital ecosystem with new Cybersecurity Guidelines, strengthening trust in online platforms, and preparing for a 5G-driven future. Uganda has stepped onto the global stage by hosting the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR 2024), bringing 900 delegates to Kampala and demonstrating Sub-Saharan Africa’s leadership in digital governance.

These milestones are the result of collaborative efforts across governments, regulators, development partners, and regional bodies. iPRIS is proud to have contributed as part of this wider community, driving digital transformation.

Implementation of the ECOWAS regional free roaming regulation

At WATRA, a number of initiatives are ongoing, most of which have yielded results towards providing meaningful connectivity in the sub-region, and some of these initiatives include;

• Supporting the Implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Free Roaming Regulation, which so far has provided affordable communication during migration within and across 9 West African nations with more progress to be made with the expected support from Workstream 2 of the iPRIS program;
• The advent of Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) operations led to the development of an NGSO Framework at the regional (WATRA) level, which provides a guide to Regulators on how to successfully engage the NGSO operators and leverage their services to promote increased coverage and connectivity, especially in the underserved and unserved areas within the region.

WATRA is also proud to play an active role in achieving the Digital Transformation Strategy (DTS) 2020 – 2030 for Africa, ensuring meaningful connectivity across all levels of the continent from the first to the last mile. Through the iPRIS project as well, various initiatives have been developed to promote connectivity across the sub-region, tackling critical areas of the telecommunications sector, including spectrum management and 5G deployment. With other key collaborations with the ITU, Smart Africa, and other development partners, WATRA is making strides towards ensuring meaningful connectivity across West Africa and Africa at large.

Access to 5G now reaches half the globe, but millions remain disconnected

According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 — marking the tenth annual stocktake of global progress toward the 2030 Agenda — the world stands at a critical juncture. With only five years left to achieve the SDGs, the report delivers a stark assessment: while millions of lives have improved, the pace of change remains insufficient to meet all 17 Goals by 2030. The report underscores that the Goals remain within reach only if action accelerates now. Across the world, young people, communities, civil society, and local leaders are driving efforts to deliver on the SDG promise. Connectivity is a key part of this global push. Although 5G coverage expanded to reach 51% of the world’s population by 2024, just five years after its commercial debut, progress remains deeply uneven. Eighty-four per cent of people in high-income countries have access to 5G, compared with only 4 per cent in low-income nations.

Watch the video below to  learn more as Mugisha Bisanda, the Chief Technology Officer at Ericsson Tanzania, explores how operators can invest in fixed wireless access to expand 5G coverage to homes and businesses: 

Where 5G is unavailable, 4G remains a vital alternative, covering 92% of the global population. Yet in low-income countries, 4G reaches just 52%, leaving 3G as the primary means of Internet access for many. Alarmingly, 4% of the world’s population remains entirely beyond mobile broadband coverage, with the largest gaps in Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), where 24% have no access at all. The world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) face similar challenges — 15% and 14% of their populations, respectively, lack mobile broadband access. These disparities highlight the urgent need for inclusive digital transformation and targeted investment to ensure that no one — or community — is left behind in the digital age.

Highlights: A three-week peer-learning journey

This incoming phase offers attending participants a comprehensive mix of expert-led sessions, collaborative project work, and field visits that connect theory with practical insights. The discussions will revolve around these components:

• Joint European Offer sessions conducted by PTS experts and telecom professionals from other partners on such matters as broadband rollout, spectrum allocation, secure communications, institutional and legal framework, future regulatory issues, competition control, and numbering and addressing. Digital inclusion discussions are among the other relevant sessions held.
• Project management, Beyond Universal Access, and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) discussions conducted by SPIDER to enhance the implementation of Change Initiatives at the national level.
• Visits to PTS headquarters, Stockholm University, Ericsson, and Telia, where participants are shown models of innovation and governance that are pro-consumer and, at the same time, enable growth.
• A network dinner at the Vasa Museum has been planned to facilitate cooperation and cultural exchange.

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 sixth cohort sessions in Luxembourg here

Strengthening impact beyond knowledge exchange

As iPRIS turns two, its growing network of alumni and active cohorts reflects the programme’s sustained commitment to strengthening ICT regulation across Africa. To date, three cohorts have completed the iPRIS cycle, welcoming them into the alumni network, representing Anglophone and Francophone regions. The seventh cohort, meeting in Stockholm soon, continues this legacy of collaboration and peer learning. The number of Francophone cohorts that have participated in the iPRIS project are two, with more expected to join in the coming years. Claudio Bacigalupi, Head of Cooperation at European Union Delegation to Zambia and COMESA, highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving regional harmonisation and creating a more conducive environment for innovation, investment, and cross-border digital services.

In 2026, iPRIS will expand its reach further through dedicated Portuguese-speaking rounds, designed to strengthen regional inclusion and linguistic diversity in digital policy dialogue. By the end of the project in 2028, iPRIS is expected to have trained over 300 African telecom regulators from 43 National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in designing and implementing evidence-based reforms for sustainable digital development.

Read about the first Francophone cohort here

As this incoming cohort’s convening concludes in early December, participants will present their “Way Forward” project plans — strategic roadmaps for implementing regulatory reforms in their respective countries — supported by their RROs. This collaboration between African and European telecom experts continues to demonstrate how shared learning and partnership can strengthen institutional capacity, advance digital inclusion, and accelerate Africa’s transformation toward a connected, sustainable future.

Follow the journey of the seventh iPRIS cohort and their Change Initiatives on the iPRIS LinkedIn page as they translate global insights into national impact across Africa’s digital landscape.

 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).

The first Francophone iPRIS cohort, after a year of capacity building, collaboration, and peer learning, concluded their journey with a reflective and inspiring wrap-up session held online in October 2025. This milestone was a major progress in the iPRIS mission to support inclusiveness and regional cooperation in Africa's regulatory landscape. While the session marked the conclusion of their iPRIS journey, it simultaneously paved the way for new and continued interactions among the alumni. This cohort first met in Luxembourg for their European phase in 2024, during which they shared telecom insights with their European peers.

Since its inception in November 2023, iPRIS has supported over 120 regulators across 31 African countries, advancing inclusive, evidence-based approaches to ICT regulation. Over 200 telecom experts from across Africa and Europe are currently engaged in the iPRIS peer-to-peer capacity-building cycle. They are playing a vital role in expanding ICT access, fostering innovation, and unlocking development potential in their countries. Mobile internet penetration across Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 27%, according to GSMA, 2024. The cohort’s wrap-up plenary brought together national regulatory authorities (NRAs) from Chad (ARCEP), Mauritania (ARE), the Central African Republic (ARTP), Comoros (ANRTIC), ARPCE Congo-Brazzaville, and Senegal (ARTP), alongside regional bodies such as ARTAO and ARCEP France, and the SPIDER team. The session also included contributions from the Mauritanian national statistics agency (ANSADE) and representatives from Institut luxembourgeois de régulation (ILR).

The plenary commenced with introductions from the facilitators, among them Malena Liedholm, Aminata Ndiaye, and Edna Soomre from SPIDER, and Tantely Jeans from ILR, who thanked the participants and the cohort for their year-long commitment. Caroline Wamala, Director of SPIDER, delivered the opening remarks, noting that the cohort’s participation and development were highly valued. She shared the experience of the year as one of common enlightenment and institutional bravery. She also stressed that the Francophone extension of iPRIS was not just a linguistic achievement but a strategic action that would lead to more profound regional inclusion. The session was a time for participants to reflect, appreciate, and reaffirm their commitment; by doing so, the cohort’s successes were linked to the larger iPRIS goal of using evidence-based regulation for all in Africa.

Showcasing change initiatives

All the countries that presented their Change Initiatives did so with clarity and purpose, thus revealing the diversity of the regulatory priorities and institutional contexts.  ARCEP Chad introduced revisions to the national numbering plan and drafted new regulatory documents to increase transparency and improve cash flow in the sector. 

ARE of Mauritania presented its step-by-step plan to create a marketplace observatory. The undertaking comprised gathering data, obtaining regulators’ consent, and training employees, with particular focus on automated workflows and index unification. The team mentioned the study tours to acquire knowledge from other regulators, for instance, the one in Senegal, which focused on Excel-based data consolidation tools.

In the Central African Republic, the project aimed to improve internal data management and ensure compliance with regional standards. The team was optimistic about the future implementation of the changes. The Comoros Islands were cited as an example of a country that has consistently participated in the project and, although the details of their CI were not elaborated on during the session, their continued attendance remained a clear indication of the government’s commitment and the project’s momentum.

Senegal and Togo were referenced as contributors to peer learning, with Senegal’s technical approach cited as a model for replication. The exchange of tools, templates, and methodologies across countries reinforced the regional relevance of each initiative and demonstrated how shared challenges could be addressed through collaboration.

During the presentations, a consensus emerged, and a common thread of themes ran through them. Regulators aimed to fortify internal governance, enhance data quality, and, lastly, improve their capacity. The projects were based on real-world scenarios, ranging from legal frameworks to technical systems, and they demonstrated a common dedication to evidence-based policy-making.

Reflections from peers and experts

Facilitators and experts praised the cohort’s clarity, ambition, and institutional insight. Mr Rufus Samuel from ARTAO noted that without reliable data, regulators risk falling behind the market, and he emphasised that these initiatives are not just technical; they are foundational. ARCEP France encouraged collaboration with national statistics agencies to strengthen data credibility and coherence, citing their own experience with the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) as a valuable precedent.

“What we’ve learned here isn’t just technical. It’s a new way of collaborating, sharing, and building together.” Mariam Brahim Abdou ARCEP Chad

The participants' voices came together in unison, expressing the same thoughts. All of them pointed out that the true transformation is a very long process and requires not only patience, vision, and strategic partnerships but also projects like iPRIS, which made available to them both the tools and a network to support the progress. Representatives of the NRAs pointed out that working with colleagues from other jurisdictions not only allowed them to realise that they were having the same difficulties, but also taught them that the essence of regulation is trust, transparency, and co-development.

Looking ahead

This initial French group has now become part of the iPRIS alumni network, and there are still plans for engagement through mentorship, peer exchanges, and regional dialogues. The extension to French-speaking countries reinforces iPRIS's pan-African reach and facilitates knowledge sharing across languages in the field of digital regulation. The first group of French-speaking participants not only underwent a year of transformative learning but also set the stage for broader, stronger cooperation in ICT regulation. Their accomplishments indicate the influence of peer learning and the potential for institutional change. As the project evolves, iPRIS continues to support evidence-based, inclusive, and future-ready regulation in Africa.

Watch highlights from the 2024B iPRIS journey below

 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).

The African continent’s digital transformation journey was the subject of a high-profile debate at CNBC Africa where two of iPRIS’ voices were featured. With Edna Soomre, Head of Partnerships, Innovation and Digital Health at SPIDER, Project Lead for iPRIS and Trilok Dabeesing, Director of Information Technology at the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) in Mauritius, the two connected in a discussion that was enlightening and insightful. The conversation reinforced the point that Africa has a digital future full of challenges and opportunities, and iPRIS is a main player in the change that is taking place.

Africa’s ICT moment: Progress with persistent gaps

Soomre pointed out that Africa is pulling up its weight as a digital leader, with the investment of the regulators and regional players in the ICT sector’s transformation being the driving factor. Still, a large pool of nearly 60% of the Africans are disconnected, although the places where they live are close to the infrastructure. “What we see is a lack of trust in services, gaps in women’s access and affordability challenges,” she asserted, citing the fact that only 31% of African women use digital services as compared to 43% of their male counterparts. Partnerships are a must for Soomre: inclusion should not be left to the regulators alone; it should also involve international development actors, private sector partners, and the communities.

Mauritius as a case study: Lessons for the continent

Dabeesing from Mauritius discussed the country's highlights, including a mobile penetration rate of over 170%, effective e-government services, and its efforts to tap into fintech and digital trade. However, he noted that the African story has room for improvement. “In rural areas, the people’s chances of using mobile internet are three times lower than in cities,” he elaborated. The high cost of data is a significant factor that hinders the penetration of the Internet in Africa. It is estimated that the cost of 1 GB of data in Africa is approximately 3% of the user’s monthly salary, while the UN’s threshold is 2%. The situation with electricity is bleak, as 600 million Africans are still not connected to the electricity supply, which is a major hurdle to the uptake of ICTs. 

Dabeesing stressed the impact of the iPRIS project: “The major upside of iPRIS is that it gives the regulators and the policy-makers not only the technical know-how but also the tools for ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion, thus making the digital transformation process fair and affordable.”

iPRIS as the primary driver of change

iPRIS is funded by the European Union, Sweden, and Luxembourg, and is reinforcing regulatory capacity in 43 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with assistance from four African regional regulatory organisations (RROs). This program addresses various challenges through the National Regulatory Authorities’ (NRA) Change Initiatives, including affordability, digital illiteracy, and infrastructure gaps. Some of the activities in the Sub-Saharan region are strengthening the cybersecurity frameworks in Mauritius and advancing the possibilities of satellite connectivity in Tanzania.

Soomre pointed out the economic potential: “If communities living next to the border are afraid of roaming fees or do not trust the services, they will not be able to trade or do business. It is through regulatory innovation and cross-border cooperation that these opportunities will be unlocked.”

Youth and the digital economy

The people of Africa are its greatest asset, with the youth comprising the most significant part of the population, at almost 60%. The Youth are the very focus of the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030), and the IFC/Google report that Africa’s internet economy will grow to USD 180 billion by 2025 is a testimony to the youth being the key driver of the continent's growth. 

To harness the digital potential of Africa, regulators will have to teach the public how to make the best use of technology, create an environment that is suitable for digital trade and steer the national plans in the direction of the continental strategies such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) treaty.

The role of regulators in the future

The two speakers emphasised that the growth of the digital sector, which is accessible to all, cannot be achieved in isolation. RROs, such as ARTAC, EACO, WATRA, and CRASA, would need to closely collaborate with government ministries, academic institutions and the private sector. 

“Through dialogue, we can together mobilise the youth into jobs, create new opportunities and minimise redundancy,” Soomre stressed.

This CNBC Africa interview pointed out both the advantages and the obstacles of Africa's digital future. iPRIS is advancing the digital advancement agenda in Sub-Saharan Africa by stressing inclusivity, trust, and understanding. These foundations will help connect underserved areas and nurture emerging digital ecosystems. Dabeesing stated that the digital transformation of Africa is in progress, but making it fair, inclusive, and sustainable will be the task of a united force consisting of regulators, policymakers, and partners that are working together in tandem.

Watch the full interview here: Driving investment in Africa’s ICT sector - CNBC Africa 

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).