iPRIS aims to bridge the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory authorities through peer-to-peer learning, in partnership with European counterparts. Designed as a dynamic capacity-building initiative, iPRIS is poised to revolutionise the landscape of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs) across 43 African countries in the period 2023-2028.

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).

November marked  a significant milestone for the iPRIS project as we celebrated 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.

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.

Group photo of the fourth iPRIS cohort.

This November 10–27th,  we hosted our fourth iPRIS Cohort in Sweden for intensive 2.5-week peer-to-peer capacity building. Concurrently, the Africa Tech Festival was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 11–14 where  the D4D Hub  showcased 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 the iPRIS and D4D Hub booth if you are in attendance!

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). 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.

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.

Thank you for being part of this journey with iPRIS as we work to shape Africa’s digital future.

Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson

Director, SPIDER

For the first time in COP history, the Presidency has acknowledged the role of digitalisation in climate talks, designating a Digitalisation Day. The 2024 UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, will feature the Green Digital Action track, emphasising the role of digitalisation in climate resilience. Digital technology offers immense potential to enhance food production and supply efficiency in Africa, promising significant economic, social, and environmental benefits.

Driving transformative climate action

On November 16, 2024, two key events will occur: a high-level meeting and the Declaration on Green Digital Action launch, both focusing on how digital technologies can drive transformative climate action.
The High-Level Roundtable on Digital Action Path 4 Green World will explore how technology can advance climate goals. Key speakers include H.E. Ms. Nigar Arpadarai, Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29; H.E. Mr. Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan; and H.E. Ms. Doreen Bogdan Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The roundtable, moderated by Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the ITU, will feature insights from government representatives from Bahrain, Brazil, China, Egypt, Estonia, Japan, Kazakhstan, and more.
The event will also bring together partners like the IAEA, UNECE, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO, World Bank, and private sector leaders from companies like Alibaba, Cisco, Google, and Nokia.

COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action

The high-level meeting will conclude with adopting the Declaration on Green Digital Action, a global commitment to promote climate-positive digitalisation, reduce ICT emissions, and expand access to green technologies.
The Declaration calls for collaboration among governments, the private sector, and international organisations to advance sustainable digitalisation, especially in developing regions. It encourages regulatory frameworks that support eco-friendly digital practices, positioning digitalisation as a key element in global climate action. Governments and stakeholders are invited to endorse the Declaration, joining a unified effort to leverage digital innovation for a sustainable future.

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

iPRIS Ignites Change with First iPRIS cycle for Francophone Africa

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

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

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.

Upcoming Events

• iPRIS 2024C European cycle, Nov 10-28, Stockholm, Sweden
• Africa Tech Festival Nov 12-14 Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa.
• 47th ATU Telecommunications /ICT Day Dec 7, E-meeting, Nairobi.
• The Regional Preparatory Meeting for WTDC-25 for Africa (RPM-AFR), 8 to 9 April 2025, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Team Europe at Africa Tech Festival, Nov 11-14, 2024.

Connect with iPRIS

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For media/project-related queries, please contact;

Ms. Edna Soomre, Project Lead- iPRIS

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, with mobile network subscriptions reaching 21.9 million by mid-2024, reflecting a penetration rate of 109.2%​. This surge underscores the critical role telecommunications play in fostering connectivity, innovation, and sustainable development across the country.

According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, "Zambia has embarked on a transformative journey towards a digital future, making significant strides in recent years. Internet access has been steadily increasing, with approximately 11.4 million active internet subscribers as of 2024, reflecting the country’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity and bridging the digital divide."

Investments in projects like the Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF), which saw the construction of 51 new telecommunication towers, are helping to bridge the digital divide and extend essential services to underserved communities​.

The Government's forward-thinking policies are further encouraging growth. For instance, introducing a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy and the Start-Up Bill is poised to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the ICT sector​. As Zambia looks toward its digital future, telecommunications will be pivotal in supporting emerging technologies like AI, 5G, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Read the full report here.

We are excited to welcome the fourth iPRIS cohort, 2024C! From November 10–27, regulatory experts from Liberia, Ghana, and Zimbabwe will dive into an intensive 2.5-week training, connecting, learning, and growing together for a stronger telecom future in Africa.

The 2024C group of participants will be the fourth cohort to participate in the iPRIS project after the first Francophone group participated in their first peer-to-peer training in Luxembourg. The French cohort was preceded by two English-speaking cohorts and a French-speaking cohort. The first iPRIS cohort 2023A, comprising regulators from Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Eswatini, South Sudan, Zambia, and Sierra Leone are set to complete their iPRIS cycle this year.

Telecom experts from The Gambia and Dr Bengt Mölleryd from SPIDER reviewing the change initiative project plan during the iPRIS peer-to-peer session in Dar es Salaam in September 2024.

The 2024C of this year's 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 (Nov 2025), 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.

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.

This convention will feature dedicated sessions for those engaged in improving telecommunications services and regulations. Two additional meetings for Fratel members and authority leaders will also address " What are the regulations for investments and innovations?"

This event will serve as an appropriate platform for regulators and other key telecom sector stakeholders to share their views about the regulatory structure for the future.

Get more information about this event here.

The 2024A Africa Regional follow-up phase was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 7 to 10 October 2024. The official opening was graced by Dr Jabiri Kuwe Bakari, Director General of Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and Barbara Barone, Policy Officer for Digital For Development at the  European Commission in Tanzania

During the week-long session, African telecom experts from national telecom regulatory authorities from Lesotho, Mauritius, South Africa,  Tanzania, The Gambia, and Uganda showcased the progress and results of their change initiatives. 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 program provided a comprehensive lineup of sessions to enhance skills and knowledge across various ICT regulatory topics. Participants engaged in workshops on survey techniques, broadband coverage, and consumer satisfaction, led by Peter Thornqvist, Senior Policy adviser and Legal officer at Swedish National Telecom and Post Agency (PTS). Sele Pokima from The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) and Andrew Changa  from The East African Communications Organization  (EACO)  offered insights on regional harmonisation  aimed  to advance economic and social development in the region.

Kerstin Borglin 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.Other sessions covered project management essentials, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) frameworks to strengthen program effectiveness and impact assessment. Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson facilitated a session t on diversity and inclusion strategies, equipping participants with tools to foster inclusive and equitable environments within their telecom  organizations.

Jean Francois Le Bihan, Mugisha Philip Bisanda, Talib Sheriff and Rene Summer  from Ericsson provided valuable insights on transitioning from legacy technologies, implementing cybersecurity frameworks for telecom regulation, and harnessing the potential of E-Band in 4G and 5G networks.

Along the sidelines of the training, the telecom regulators enjoyed a cultural visit to Dar es Salaam’s village museum, experiencing the vibrant heart of East Africa.

Here are some photo highlights from  the Africa follow-up phase  that was held in Dar es Salaam

Dr Jabiri Kuwe Bakari - Director General of Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), and Engineer Mr. Christopher John Assenga, Principal Engineer, TCRA, pose with the SPIDER team

Talib Sheriff - Country Manager Ericson Tanzania presents regional and global insights on 2G, 3G and 5G to the participants.

African and European experts taking part in the Africa Follow-up Week in Dar es Salaam visit the village museum in Dar es Salaam  to learn about the traditions of various ethnic groups across Tanzania and how buildings  were designed and reflected in everyday life.

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)  presenting their Change Initiative to their peers (telecom experts). This allows the opportunity to celebrate progress and receive further input for improvement.

Peer-to-peer learning sessions in Dar es Salaam emphasising the critical role that Regional Regulatory Organisations have in facilitating cross-border collaboration and enabling regional harmonisation.

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).

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.

The  two-and-a-half-week peer-to-peer learning session included participation from:

• African telecom experts from national regulatory authorities representing the Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritania, Senegal, and Togo.
• Regional regulatory experts representing ARTAC and
• European experts from ILR, BNETZA (Germany) and ARCEP (France).

The African telecom regulators focused on launching their change initiative that will help address connectivity gaps or barriers to digital inclusion in their respective counties. The peer-to-peer training  session covered various topics, including legal frameworks, market competition, consumer protection, and spectrum management.

Along the sidelines of the sessions, the participants explored various sites in the country, such as the Lëtzebuerg City Museum, the National Mining Museum, and the European Union Court of Justice.

After completing the capacity building training session, the  African telecom experts received participation certificates, concluding their peer-to-peer comprehensive training experience.The participants will reconvene in Dakar, Senegal, in February 2025 to review their progress in the change initiative.

Selected photo highlights from the peer to peer  training session in  Luxembourg

The iPRIS project implementation team at the European Court of Justice with Judge Ulf Öberg

The participants during a field visit in the afternoon after a rigorous morning of peer-to-peer learning in their second week in Luxembourg

Ms. Malena Liedholm-Ndounou (SPIDER) facilitates a presentation on Universal Coverage

The Mauritanian team, Cheikha Mohamed Vall (left) and El Vaiza Badda (middle), together with Tantley Jeans (ILR).

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.

Global Digital Compact: Connecting the World

The Global Digital Compact, which is the overarching objective of the Pact, is a crucial development in global digital cooperation. Its significance was underscored by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who reiterated that:

"The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities."

The Global Digital Compact sets out several important principles that will greatly influence the telecommunications industry among other sectors:

1. Universal Internet Access: World leaders have committed to facilitating Internet connectivity for individuals and institutions such as schools and hospitals. This ambitious goal is closely related to SDG9, which aims to build resistant infrastructure and foster inclusive and sustainable industrialisation.
2. Human Rights in the Digital Era: The Compact places such cooperation on legal foundations based on democratic principles and human rights values, meaning that no development may come at the expense of people’s freedoms.
3. Online Safety: Governments and tech companies have committed to making the online space safe for all users, with a focus on protecting children.
4. AI Governance: The Compact includes a provision for regulating Artificial Intelligence, which comprises an international scientific panel and Global Policy Dialogue on AI.
5. Open Data and Accessibility: Adopting open data policies regarding data, models, and standards will fuel growth and cooperation in the technology area.

Sustainable Development and Digital Inclusion

Looking Ahead: A Connected Future

The adoption of the Pact for the Future and its associated commitments marks a significant milestone in global efforts to harness the power of telecommunications for sustainable development. According to the United Nations, More than 7,000 civil participants attended, resulting in pledges aggregating USD 1.05 billion for furthering a cause such as digital inclusion worldwide.

As we progress, the telecommunications industry will play a pivotal role in implementing these ambitious goals.

The President of the UN General Assembly aptly summarised the potential impact of the Pact:

"It will lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations."

With the globalisation of the world today, the telecommunications industry is in the vanguard of creating favourable opportunities. The undertaking made at the UN Summit of the Future offers a Vision for the Present and the Future which seeks to be inclusive, just, sustainable, and, most importantly, digitally empowered. Read More

From September 8-25, 2024, the first-ever iPRIS training for a French-speaking cohort of seven Francophone Africa national telecom regulators will take place in Luxembourg. The training will cover a
diverse range of topics including legal frameworks, market competition, consumer protection, and spectrum management. Participants will also visit several operators, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and cultural sites like museums and the Betzdorf and Vianden castles.

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. These initiatives focus on tackling issues such as infrastructure gaps or digital inclusion barriers. Following the Luxembourg training, a regional support team will assist the regulators in implementing their change initiatives. The whole 2024B cohort will reconvene in Dakar, Senegal, in February 2025 to review progress and refine their projects. The effectiveness of the initiatives will be evaluated one year after the project’s commencement in 2025.

2024B will engage the telecom regulators of the Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritania, Senegal and Togo. These national telecom regulators, also known as national
regulatory authorities (NRAs), are government-appointed organizations responsible for developing and implementing policies to safeguard consumers, ensure fair competition, and foster innovation within the ICT sector. iPRIS adopts a peer-based learning approach to enhance the capacities of NRAs, aiming to narrow the digital gap.

iPRIS is a joint effort by the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions (SPIDER), Sweden’s Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), and Luxembourg’s Regulatory Institute (ILR). They collaborate with African
regional telecom regulators to support NRAs in achieving their strategic objectives.

For additional information, interested parties can contact Ms. Edna Soomre, the iPRIS Project Lead, at ipris@spidercenter.org

The mobile sector in Kenya has grown, with total mobile subscriptions reaching 68 million, representing a penetration rate of 132.1%. This growth has been driven by operator customer win-back campaigns. Additionally, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) subscriptions rose to 1.607 million.

The sector also experienced growth with mobile money subscriptions increasing to 38.7 million, a penetration rate of 75%. The growth was spurred by the removal of withdrawal codes for transactions conducted between M-Pesa and Airtel Money, allowing seamless fund transfers among the two mobile wallets. Read more 

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) hosted its annual Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-24) in Kampala, Uganda from July 1 to 4, 2024, at the Speke Resort and Convention Center.

Themed "Regulation for Impact," GSR-24 brought together regulators, policymakers, and digital stakeholders from across the globe. The symposium offered a platform for knowledge exchange through thematic sessions focusing on critical issues in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The opening day featured a meeting of the Regional Regulatory Organizations and Digital Regulation Network (DRN). This session focused on accelerating sustainable digital transformation through collaborative approaches to digital policy, regulation, and governance across various economic sectors and borders. A key item on the agenda was the development of harmonized broadband mapping systems.

The DRN meeting also marked a significant milestone by celebrating its first successful year of operation. Participants took the opportunity to highlight the network's achievements, including knowledge sharing, capacity-building activities, and contributions to ITU-D Study Groups. The interactive workshops were also recognised as a valuable component of the DRN's efforts, underscoring the progress made in the past year.

Another significant event on the first day was the ITU GSR Heads of Regulators Executive Roundtable. This high-level discussion, which was a focal point of the day, concentrated on developing open, flexible, and risk-based governance structures for transformative technology. The roundtable featured rich interventions and discussions, highlighting the weighty challenges facing regulators in today's digital age.

Opening Ceremony at GSR-24

Day 2 of GSR-24 involved the opening ceremony led by a panel of stakeholders, including H.E. MAJ (RTD) Jessica Alupo (Vice President, Uganda), Hon. Dr Chris Baryomunsi (Minister, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Uganda), Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin (Secretary General, ITU), Mr George William Nyombi Thembo (Executive Director, UCC, and GSR-24 chair, Uganda), and Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava (Director, Telecommunications Development Bureau, ITU).

H.E. Jessica Alupo, representing President Yoweri Museveni, officially opened the symposium. In her address, she emphasised, "As regulators of the ICT sector, your mandate is to promote the sector's contribution to the economic well-being of the people." She added, "I urge you to promote a regulatory environment prioritising innovation, safety, privacy and the rights of digital technology users."

Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted the urgent need to bridge the digital divide, noting that 2.6 billion globally still lack internet access. She stated, "We need to make the race to regulation a race to the top and not a race to the bottom." Bogdan-Martin called for accelerated efforts to bring these unconnected populations online, describing it as "both an economic necessity and a moral imperative."

Dr. Cosmas Zavazava stressed the importance of collaboration: "Collaboration entails two-way frequent and dynamic communication among governments, the private sector, civil society, telecommunications regulators, and the average citizen." He emphasised the need for "formulating policies that are inclusive, and making significant investments in building the infrastructure."

Dr Chris Baryomunsi, welcomed delegates to the "Pearl of Africa" and highlighted Uganda's commitment to digital transformation. He stated, "The government of Uganda has prioritised digital transformation, as expressed in our national development plan number three, and also as a ministry as a sector, we are guided by a digital transformation roadmap."

George William Nyombi Thembo provided context for the symposium's importance, noting, "Access to the internet is no longer a luxury, it has become an absolute necessity. Denial of which means denial of essential services like education, medical care, and financial inclusion to mention but a few."

The symposium discussed key topics such as artificial intelligence governance, space technologies, and international cooperation in ICT regulation. Participants worked towards developing best practice guidelines for regulating emerging technologies to maximise their positive impact while minimising risks.

From left: Dr Cosmas Zavazava (ITU) and Mr George William Nyombi Thembo (UCC)

The primary outcome of day 2 was the launch of the Best Practice Guidelines,  by Dr. Cosmas  Luckyson Zavazava from ITU and Mr George William Nyombi Thembo, the executive director of UCC.

Best Practice Guidelines are instrumental in shaping national policies, strategies and regulatory frameworks that foster investment, innovation and growth in the ICT sector. The ITUG SR-24 Best Practice Guidelines chart the course of transformative technologies for positive impact, outlining the challenges, opportunities,  key policy and regulatory measures, and guiding principles for positive and inclusive impact in 6 languages.

Network of women in tech 

On Day 3 of GSR-24, the Network of Women (NoW) session brought together influential voices to address the persistent gender gap in the ICT sector. Participants engaged in spirited discussions examining the obstacles that continue to hinder women’s advancement in technology-related fields, especially at the highest levels of policymaking. The session highlighted the challenges and explored solutions and mechanisms to boost women’s participation in these crucial roles.

From left: Enock Wakabi (UCC), Dr Caroline Wamala (SPIDER), and Priscilla Namugerwa (UCC) at GSR-24

ITU Sec Gen Ms Bogdan-Martin expressed her inspiration from the stories of women’s leadership shared during the event. She called for renewed efforts to make 2025 a milestone year for gender equality, urging stakeholders to take concrete actions to close the gender divide in the digital sphere.
SPIDER director Dr Caroline Wamala (left) and ITU secretary general Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin (right) at GSR-24

Other announcements at GSR-24:

• Africa-BB-Maps, the European Commission-supported initiative for Africa's National Broadband Mapping Systems, will assist in establishing broadband mapping systems to promote investment and digital transformation in Africa. With a budget of EUR 15 million spread over four years, the initiative would initially serve 11 countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• The Digital Skills Forum, a flagship event to address the most pressing demands for universal digital skills, will be held in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, from September 17 to 19, 2024. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Kingdom of Bahrain will host the event, which is organised by the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.
• Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space and Technology Commission is to hold the Global Symposium for Regulators in 2025.