Luxembourg — 14th September

This September, Luxembourg stands at the center of digital cooperation, bringing together Francophone African and European telecom regulators for two and a half weeks of shared learning, strategic dialogue, and practical solutions to today’s connectivity challenges.

In an age where digital connectivity is the backbone of economic growth and social inclusion, bridging digital divides has never been more urgent.  ITU estimates that approximately 5.5 billion people – or 68 per cent of the world’s population – are using the Internet in 2024. This represents an increase from only 53 per cent in 2019, with 1.3 billion people estimated to have come online during that period. However, this leaves 2.6 billion people still offline.​​

About iPRIS 

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 (Luxembourg Regulatory Institute [ILR]), as well as ARTAC, CRASA, EACO, and WATRA. It builds on the success of a similar programme implemented by SPIDER and PTS, which engaged 27 English-speaking African regulators between 2016 and 2022.

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).

Peer to peer learning 

This year’s Francophone cohort reflects the breadth and depth of regulatory experience across both continents. African National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) participating include ARCEP Benin, ARCT Burundi, ART Cameroon, ARPTC Congo Kinshasa, ORTEL Equatorial Guinea, ARCEP Gabon, and ARPT Guinea. They are joined by Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs) such as CRASA,  WATRA, EACO, and ARTAC, alongside European peers including ARCEP France, BNetzA (Germany), IBPT (Belgium), and private-sector partner Deloitte.

The mix balances local realities with global perspectives, ensuring African regulators lead discussions while drawing on international expertise. Together, participants are charting a shared path towards stronger ICT regulation, fairer access, and a more connected future.

The  2025 peer to peer  training round builds on the success of the 2024B Francophone cohort, which was the first French cohort from Sub-Saharan Africa  (SSA) to participate in iPRIS. This new cohort will continue iPRIS’s commitment to strengthening institutional leadership in ICT regulation and advancing affordable, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation across Africa.

Tackling the core challenges  to unlock the global digital divide

The iPRIS programme zeroes in on urgent priorities that define digital inclusion in Africa today:

• Affordability: In 2024, the median price of an entry-level mobile broadband plan in Sub-Saharan Africa was the highest globally, well above the UN Broadband Commission’s affordability target of 2 per cent of income. Fixed broadband remains even less affordable (ITU, 2025).
  
• Gender gaps: Digital access still reflects stark inequalities. In 2024, 43 per cent of men in Africa were online compared to just 31 per cent of women (ITU, 2025).
  
• Emerging regulatory frontiers: From 5G rollout and satellite-to-device services to cross-border spectrum coordination, regulators must stay ahead of new technologies.
  
• Interoperability: Cross-border telecom operations depend on seamless connectivity between networks and devices, a critical enabler of regional integration.
  
• Data security: Safeguarding the flow of data across borders is key to building trust, protecting consumers, and strengthening digital ecosystems.
  

Reflections from the telecom experts during week 1

These reflections underline the programme’s dual role: technical deep dive and cultural bridge-building.

Local realities, shared solutions

Week 1 discussions were rooted in concrete national contexts. For example, in Equatorial Guinea, rural areas often rely on networks from neighbouring countries, with cross-border interference disrupting service quality. In Gabon, 90 per cent of the fibre market is controlled by a single operator, limiting competition and infrastructure sharing. Even when competition expands—as with the arrival of a third mobile operator in 2022—the market grew only 4 per cent, highlighting pressure on margins and the need for smarter regulation.

These examples illustrate why Change Initiatives (CIs) are central to iPRIS. Each telecom regulator during the 12-month training programme designs a CI aligned with their institutional priorities—whether infrastructure gaps, affordability barriers, or regulatory inefficiencies. Over the course of the 12-month session, CIs evolve from ideas into actionable project plans through two tracks: expert-led technical work (coordinated by ILR) and SPIDER-led coaching on project management.

Spectrum: the invisible backbone

One highlight of the week was a deep dive into spectrum management, facilitated by Guy Mahowald, the invisible yet indispensable resource that powers everyday life. This conversation addressed several spectrum topics across the session. One highlight was discussions around the challenges of balancing global standards with local realities, including the difficulties African regulators face with imported equipment, the publication of approved equipment lists, and the broader context of differing regulatory approaches between Africa and Europe.

Spectrum enables everything from mobile calls, texts, and internet access to Wi-Fi, GPS, satellite internet, Bluetooth devices, and even wireless microphones. Globally, spectrum governance is coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) through its World Radiocommunication Conference. Regional bodies such as CEPT (Europe) and ATU (Africa) help align strategies, while national regulators like Luxembourg’s ILR develop detailed frequency plans and negotiate cross-border agreements.

Building for impact

The iPRIS peer-to-peer learning journey is designed to be both practical and transformative. 

Facilitating the project management session, Ms. Malena Liedholm Ndounou of SPIDER emphasised that the real value lies in integrating those planning tools into actual outputs.

"Clear objectives and the right indicators help regulators see what's working and what's not. That's how Change Initiatives can drive down costs, close gender gaps, improve user experience, and build a more inclusive digital ecosystem," she stated.

Click the video below to view some moments from the first week

Roadmap to 2030

Since inception, iPRIS has engaged 31 national telecom regulators in Sub-Saharan countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Eswatini, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo-Brazaville, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, Lesotho, Mauritius, Rwanda, The Gambia, South Sudan, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo-Kinshasa, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Guinea-Conakry. Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs)—CRASA, WATRA|ARTAO, EACO, ARTAC—play a central role in shaping the digital ecosystem.

Between 2023 and 2028, iPRIS will engage national and regional telecom regulators in 43 countries across sub-Saharan Africa to drive social and economic prosperity using ICT. Telecom regulators are key to ensuring ICT access, competition, consumer protection, and innovation to unlock development potential.

Stay tuned for more updates on the remaining weeks of the peer-to-peer training sessions.

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 6–24 September 2025, Luxembourg will host the second Francophone iPRIS round in Europe, bringing together telecom regulators and experts from across Francophone Africa for two and a half weeks of peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and strategic action planning. The round builds on the success of the 2024B Francophone cohort, which was the first French cohort from Sub-Saharan Africa  (SSA) to participate in iPRIS. This new cohort will continue iPRIS’s commitment to strengthening institutional leadership in ICT regulation and advancing affordable, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation across Africa.

Among the confirmed regulators are the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs): ARCEP Benin, ARCT Burundi, ART Cameroon, ARPTC Congo Kinshasa, ORTEL Equatorial Guinea, ARCEP Gabon, ARPT Guinea, and, on the Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs) side, WATRA, EACO, and ATRAC. They will also be joined by representatives from ARCEP France, BNETZA, IBPT, and Deloitte. This special mixture of institutions provides an environment that, from the learning perspective, allows a balance between local realities and international perspectives, an African-led space in partnership with global partners.

Africa has a lot of economic prospects in almost every field. The continent's young population is a huge opportunity in this digital age, which is why Africa needs to make digitally enabled socio-economic development a top priority. However, Africa remains the continent that is the least connected worldwide; only 38 percent of Africans were online as of 2024, as compared to 68 percent globally, according to the International Telecommunication Union  (ITU, 2025).

These figures highlight the need for a shift in regulation and infrastructure growth in SSA. Access to affordable, reliable connectivity underpins economic competitiveness, social inclusion, and resilience. With such sectors being improved, the digital space in the continent has the potential to improve the lives of SSA’s population.

This round will focus on the ability of regulators to respond effectively to:

• Affordability challenges that stand as barriers to digital inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2024, the median price of an entry-level mobile broadband plan was the highest compared to other regions and is well above the UN Broadband Commission's affordability target of two per cent. Fixed broadband is far less affordable (ITU, 2025).
• Gender gaps to digital inclusion, wherein in 2024, 43 per cent of men were online in Africa against 31 per cent of women (ITU, 2025).
• Emerging regulatory frontiers in areas such as 5G, satellite-to-device services, and cross-border spectrum coordination.

A key component of the iPRIS project is the planning and implementation of “Change Initiatives”, strategic projects designed to address specific challenges within each regulator's jurisdiction. Change Initiatives in earlier rounds have included:

• Revising spectrum policies to reduce broadband costs.
  
• Expanding consumer protection frameworks.
  
• Designing regulatory roadmaps for universal service funds. 

The 2025 Francophone round will continue this approach, ensuring that knowledge exchange translates into measurable change at home. Following the Luxembourg workshop, a regional support team from the RROs will assist the regulators in implementing their change initiatives. The whole 2025C cohort will reconvene in one African country after 4 months to review progress and refine their projects. The effectiveness of the initiatives will be evaluated one year after the project’s commencement in 2026.

In addition to structured sessions, regulators will take part in field visits to operators, European regulatory institutions, and cultural landmarks. These experiences enrich the learning journey and provide space for informal collaboration.

iPRIS has engaged 24 national telecom regulators 

It has been an exciting journey built on information sharing and capacity-building. 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. They initially started their round in November 2023.

We also proudly welcomed the second iPRIS cohort (2024A) into the growing iPRIS alumni community. Their final wrap-up session in June marked the culmination of impactful Change Initiatives and strong regional collaboration. The 2024A cohort comprised South Africa’s ICASA, Lesotho’s LCA, Uganda’s UCC, Mauritius’s ICTA, The Gambia’s PURA, and Tanzania’s TCRA. The first-ever Francophone cohort comprised of NRAs representing the Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritania, Senegal, and Togo. 

So far, iPRIS has engaged 24 national telecom regulators in Sub-Saharan countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Eswatini, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo-Brazaville, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, Lesotho, Mauritius, Rwanda, The Gambia, South Sudan, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone. Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs)—CRASA, WATRA | ARTAO, EACO, ARTAC—play a central role in shaping the iPRIS ecosystem. From leading peer-learning sessions to offering guidance on cross-border spectrum harmonisation and NGSO frameworks, their contributions continue to drive the regional integration agenda.

Success stories from iPRIS

Several iPRIS and predecessor programme cohorts have already translated Change Initiatives into regulatory milestones that are reshaping Africa’s digital landscape:

1. Tanzania: Direct-to-mobile satellite guidelines

The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has approved a pioneering set of Guidelines for the Provision of Direct-to-Mobile (D2D) Satellite Communication Services, making Tanzania one of the first African countries to establish a clear framework for satellite-enabled mobile connectivity.

This Change Initiative was designed and developed during the iPRIS 2024A cohort round by TCRA’s representatives – Eng. Aude Nishael Kileo, Ms. Gudila Proches Marick, and Mr. Christopher John Assenga.

With only 27% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population using mobile internet by the end of 2023 (GSMA 2024), the Tanzanian framework positions the country at the forefront of regulatory innovation, ensuring satellite-to-device services can be safely and sustainably deployed to connect underserved and remote communities.

 Download the official TCRA Guidelines

2. Mauritius: Strengthening cybersecurity frameworks

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) of Mauritius has launched comprehensive Cybersecurity Guidelines for all licensed telecom operators. These self-assessment tools help operators evaluate vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience, and prepare for the forthcoming 5G-driven digital ecosystem.

This Change Initiative emerged from ICTA’s participation in the iPRIS 2024A cohort, with the Mauritian delegation comprising Mr. Trilok Dabeesing, Ms. Priya Chutoorgoon, and Mr. Pralash Nahullah. Read More

3. Uganda: Hosting the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR 2024)

Uganda’s Communications Commission (UCC) successfully hosted the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) 2024 in Kampala, demonstrating the country’s leadership in advancing inclusive ICT regulation. Read More

4. Mozambique: Redefining roaming 

In Mozambique, a Change Initiative developed during the 2018B International Training Programme (ITP), the direct predecessor to iPRIS, has resulted in a landmark National Roaming Regulation.

The regulation was officially gazetted in 2025. It allows mobile subscribers in rural and underserved areas to access services from multiple operators, reducing coverage gaps and enhancing financial inclusion through mobile money services. Read More

A continental ripple effect

These examples illustrate how iPRIS Change Initiatives are not only driving national reforms, but also informing regional harmonisation and shaping Africa’s contribution to global digital policy debates. 

Aligning with Africa’s digital vision

The African Union Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030) underscores that Africa’s youthful population structure is an enormous opportunity in the digital era. With the youth making up nearly 60% of Africa’s population, digital transformation must be at the centre of socio-economic development. Digitalisation is not just about connectivity. It is a driver of job creation, innovation, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth.

For regulators, the call to action is clear:

• Prioritise affordability and inclusivity in broadband policies. 
• Integrate gender-responsive frameworks into digital regulation. 
• Strengthen regional cooperation through platforms like iPRIS. 
• Build effective public–private partnerships to expand infrastructure and services.

The second Francophone iPRIS round in Luxembourg is more than a peer-to-peer learning session. It is a strategic investment in Africa’s digital future. By equipping telecom regulators with knowledge, networks, and practical tools, iPRIS advances the vision of a continent where connectivity is affordable, inclusive, and transformative. The future of Africa is digital. Ensuring that it is also equitable and sustainable depends on the leadership strengthened through initiatives such as iPRIS.

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 Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has now fully approved the usage of a groundbreaking set of Guidelines for the Provision of Direct-to-Mobile Phone Satellite Communication Services. These guidelines were developed directly from the National Regulatory Authority's (NRA) Change Initiative (CI), which was established during the iPRIS 2024A cohort round. The representatives of TCRA from the 2024A cohort are Mr. Aude Nishael Kileo, Ms. Gudila Proches Marick, and Mr. Christopher John Assenga. 

Change Initiatives are strategic projects undertaken to bridge the digital divide by addressing challenges and opportunities within the ICT sector. They are the cornerstone of iPRIS and are specifically designed to align with the strategic agendas of regulatory bodies.

“We're happy to share that TCRA management has now approved these Guidelines, which will guide operators during the initial phase of deploying D2D services,” said Eng. Aude Nishael Kileo, one member of the TCRA 2024A team.

The Significance of the Guidelines

According to the GSMA Mobile Economy Sub‑Saharan Africa 2024 report, only 27% of the population in this region used mobile internet by end‑2023, while 60% of those in coverage remained unconnected due to affordability, safety issues, or skills gaps. With these Guidelines in place, Tanzania is well ahead in regulatory innovation in Africa, providing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Satellite Network Operators (SNOs) with a clear regulatory framework within which they can interact to deliver satellite-to-device (D2D) services. 

The framework seeks to: 

• Expand connectivity to underserved and remote locations through satellite-enabled mobile communication
• Protect terrestrial IMT operations from interference issues
• Ensure open authorisation and reporting requirements for providers
• Align with global developments, including the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27) agenda on Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs)

The Guidelines are the outcome of a broad stakeholder consultation, taking into account the views of MNOs, SNOs, and regional coordination priorities.

A Model Change Initiative 

Within the iPRIS framework, CIs seek to improve NRA capacity by applying peer-to-peer learning. What TCRA achieved is an example of a targeted CI that, through peer dialogue, leadership engagement, and technical rigour, is translated into meaningful regulatory outcomes.

For further information, visit the TCRA website to access the official Guidelines for Provision of Direct-to-Mobile Phone Satellite Communication, or download the document directly here: https://www.tcra.go.tz/uploads/documents/en-1752839222-GUIDELINES%20FOR%20PROVISION%20OF%20DIRECT%20TO%20MOBILE%20PHONE%20SATELLITE%20COMMUNICATION.pdf 

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).