The seventh iPRIS cohort began its journey in Stockholm with an intensive and collaborative first week designed to strengthen regulatory capacity, deepen understanding of the Joint European Offer (JEO), and consolidate the Change Initiatives (CIs) that will guide national institutional strengthening over the next year.

Across the week, African National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) engaged with African and European experts on spectrum, broadband deployment, regulatory independence, evidence-based decision-making, project management, and emerging policy issues, laying the groundwork for a cycle defined by learning, practical insights, and peer-to-peer collaboration. The NRAs include National Communications Authority (NCA Ghana), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA The Gambia), Communications Authority (CA Kenya), and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). They are joined by Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs) - WATRA, EACO, and CRASA, who will guide them on their iPRIS journey to realise their change initiatives. 

Day 1: Change initiatives take centre stage

The week opened with a dynamic series of CI presentations from NRAs across Africa. The various countries presented their CIs relevant to nations, with discussions ranging from spectrum roadmaps to AI policy readiness, consumer protection, community networks, and satellite regulation. A complete spectrum roadmap for 2025-2035 that would bring together scattered policies and improve future-readiness was presented by Edem Debrah of Ghana. Kenya discussed its plan to help community networks reach marginalised areas, with Thomas Luti highlighting, “community networks… are for the people, run by the communities for their own benefit.” Lesotho highlighted the need to regulate AI and emerging technologies, with Alex Maama stating, “The LCA will… proactively work on the required policy to regulate emerging technologies for the good of the country effectively.”

Malawi, The Gambia, and Botswana regulators also shared CIs on spectrum initiatives related to quality of service enforcement, spectrum management, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), and satellite services regulation. SPIDER’s Edna Soomre grounded the day’s work with a reminder of the programme’s purpose: “We want to drive you to the results of your change initiatives. You have the answers because you know the context.”

Day 2: Understanding regulatory evolution and the European model

Tuesday’s sessions provided a deep dive into regulatory models, project structures, and the legal foundations of independence and cooperation in Europe. Alexandra Högberg opened with a project management masterclass on intentional design, reminding participants: “Clarity of purpose is what keeps a project anchored when everything around it shifts.” Lars Gustafsson charted Sweden’s evolution from a monopoly environment to a competitive, high-performing telecom market. His session showed how regulatory frameworks must evolve in tandem with market dynamics, spectrum demands and technological change.

Per Andersson unpacked the legal foundations of the Joint European Offer, explaining Sweden’s constitutional separation between ministries and NRAs. His discussion illustrated why independence, transparency and legal certainty are necessary safeguards for credible regulatory practice. Building on this, Antonia Wopenka introduced the European Electronic Communications Code and emerging EU instruments, including the Gigabit Infrastructure Act and AI regulation. She highlighted how harmonised rules and regional cooperation equip regulators to navigate cross-border markets and fast-moving technologies.

These sessions clarified how legal certainty, transparency, resourcing, and institutional design underpin effective regulation, offering lessons for African NRAs working to strengthen their own frameworks.

Day 3: Broadband planning, data, and evidence-based regulation

Wednesday’s programme focused on the technical backbone of digital transformation: broadband deployment, mapping, and secure communications. Andreas Wigren opened with a look at Sweden’s broadband journey, demonstrating how clear targets and coordinated investment can drive long-term digital infrastructure. “State support works best when it complements the market, not replaces it,” he explained. Jens Ingman followed with a practical session on broadband mapping, stressing the centrality of reliable data: “Good mapping is the basis for good decisions. Without accurate data, you can neither plan nor regulate effectively.”

African regulators contributed national perspectives, from Ghana’s challenges with commercial viability to Malawi’s interest in demand-prediction tools, highlighting shared challenges and opportunities. An afternoon visit to the PTS headquarters introduced participants to Sweden’s secure communications frameworks, complemented by an evening reception that strengthened cross-continental professional bonds. The secure communications session was delivered by Per Erik Vitasp, Gustav Söderlind, and Joakim Aspengren, providing insight into Sweden’s approach to network resilience, emergency communications, and institutional coordination.

Day 4: End-User Protection, Digital Inclusion and Numbering Systems

Thursday brought the focus to the user-facing side of regulation,  ensuring that digital markets are fair, inclusive and accessible. The morning opened with Lisa Gurner, who introduced Europe’s regulatory approach to end-user protection. She explained how transparency rules, switching procedures and preventive supervision support markets where users can clearly understand their rights and make informed choices. Her session also highlighted PTS’ collaboration with the Swedish Consumer Agency and the mechanisms used to protect vulnerable groups. She was followed by Hans von Axelson, who explored digital inclusion and the practical ways accessibility is embedded into Sweden’s regulatory and service frameworks. By walking participants through procurement requirements, relay and interpretation services and real-time text systems, he demonstrated how inclusive design ensures that persons with disabilities can communicate on equal terms.

In the afternoon, Claes Hultholm and Jesper Simons provided a detailed look at Sweden’s numbering and addressing systems. They explained how national numbering plans are structured, how PTS allocates and supervises resources and why reclaiming unused numbers is essential for long-term sustainability. Their discussion also covered portability, emergency call obligations and the increasing need for expanded numbering ranges as digital services grow. Contributions from African NRAs highlighted parallels with challenges back home, including number shortages, fraud prevention and the need for more transparent allocation systems. The sessions demonstrated how user protections, digital accessibility and numbering frameworks collectively shape secure, inclusive and well-functioning communications markets.

Day 5: Future regulatory issues, spectrum, and project management

The week will conclude with a forward-looking agenda curated by PTS and SPIDER, focusing on future regulatory trends, spectrum management, and advanced project management. Bo Andersson will open the day by exploring the policy issues regulators must prepare for in the coming decade. Amela Hatibovic, Gustav Lenninger, and Fredrik Johansson will lead Spectrum Management. This session aims to equip NRAs with practical insights into European spectrum allocation models. 

SPIDER’s Alexandra Högberg & Malena Liedholm Ndounou will also deliver a hands-on workshop to refine the cohort’s Change Initiatives, ensuring they are realistically scoped, linked to impact pathways, and supported by strong indicators. The day will close with a cohort evaluation and a cultural visit to Stockholm’s Royal Palace, an opportunity to reflect on learning, celebrate progress, and strengthen relationships before Week 2.

A strong start to a transformative cycle

Week 1 set a powerful foundation for the Seventh iPRIS Cohort, combining peer learning, European regulatory insights, and the practical shaping of Change Initiatives that respond directly to national needs. The balanced mix of technical sessions, legal frameworks, project management guidance, and cross-continental collaboration reflects iPRIS’s core mission: strengthening regulatory institutions and accelerating Africa’s digital transformation. As this cycle continues into Weeks 2 and 3, the cohort carries forward a shared commitment to building inclusive, secure, resilient digital ecosystems across the continent.

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 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).