We are pleased to announce that  a new cohort, comprising seven ICT National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) from  Gambia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa, will commence the iPRIS peer-to-peer learning  session in Sweden from 12 to 29 May 2024.

The NRAs represented include The Gambia’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), Mauritius’ Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA), Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), also called telecom regulators, are official bodies appointed by governments to represent and advocate for the interests and rights of consumers in the digital marketplace. In the information and communication technology (ICT) industry, NRAs develop and enforce policies and regulations that protect consumers, promote fair competition, and encourage innovation.

The project implementors, including SPIDER,PTS and ILR  will meet on the 30th May. iPRIS is implemented by SPIDER ( the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions), the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR).In collaboration with the African Regional Regulatory Organisations, the implementers support the participating National Regulatory Authorities in achieving their strategic change initiatives.

A peer to peer learning approach 

iPRIS aims to bridge the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory authorities through peer-to-peer learning.

“iPRIS provides peer-to-peer capacity-building for African National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations, said SPIDER Director, Dr Caroline Wamala.  “It stems from the recognition of the significance of ICT policies and regulation in promoting digital inclusion, equitable access to the Internet, consumer rights protection, and personal data safeguarding.”

Engaging 43 countries in Africa, iPRIS aims to enhance inclusive digital connectivity and drive social and economic prosperity using ICT. The regulators participating in the project include National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations across sub-Saharan Africa.

The 2024 A cohort is the second group of NRAs taking part in the iPRIS training after the first cohort, 2023A, successfully completed the Sweden Phase in November 2023 and the Africa Phase in Zambia in March 2023. Currently, the 2023 A group is busy with their change initiatives, and they are set to complete the program in November 2023.

The 2023 A group comprises of regulators from Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Eswatini Communication Commission (ESCCOM), Sierra Leone National Communication Authority (NatCA), National Communication Authority of South Sudan (NCA), Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), and Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA).

Read the first edition of the  iPRIS Newsletter here 

The training approach 

The  two and a half week long peer to peer training programme  in  Sweden covers a wide range of topics on the Joint European Offer, Project management, gender, equality and incluson The topics covered in the Joint European offer include, institutional and legal framework, competition for a dynamic market, end user protection, spectrum management and secure communications.

During the training, the NRAs from Africa will have an opportunity to share insights and witness technical aspects/ regulatory approaches from their European counterparts. The training programme also includes a site visit to the VASA Museum, PTS, and Ericsson.

Change Initiatives 

The comprehensive training is designed to equip participants with the skills and insights they need to develop change initiatives to  drive meaningful change within their regulatory bodies. Change Initiatives” are strategic projects undertaken by NRAs during the iPRIS training 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.  The change initiatives focus on policy development and implementation linked to key issues within the ICT sector, such as infrastructure gaps, regulatory inefficiencies, or digital inclusion barriers

After the Sweden training a regional support team, with representatives from African RROs, collaborates with the national regulators to support the implementation of their change initiatives, thus promoting regional harmonisation.

The 2024 A cohort will meet up 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 progress, share results, and engage in discussions to enhance their change initiatives (CIs) further.  One year after the round begins (June 2024), the efficacy and progress of the change initiatives implemented by the participating NRAs will be examined and evaluated.

For more information please contact,

Ms. Edna Soomre, Project Lead iPRIS

ipris@spidercenter.org

Greetings, colleagues and partners

We're happy to unveil the first edition of the ICT Policy & Regulation – Institutional Strengthening (iPRIS) quarterly newsletter!

This newsletter will share updates and insights as the iPRIS project unfolds its transformative mission.

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.

The iPRIS project is implemented by SPIDER (the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions), 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).

iPRIS is dedicated to bolstering the capabilities and efficacy of ICT regulatory bodies. Through targeted interventions and peer-to-peer partnerships, iPRIS endeavours to foster an environment conducive to sustainable ICT growth and development.

Join us as we embark on this transformative journey, united in our commitment to bridge the digital divide in Africa!

Warm regards,

Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson

Director, SPIDER

Read the newsletter  on LinkedIn here 

The "Bridging the Gender Digital Divide" webinar, hosted by the Africa Union (AU) and Africa Renewal, addressed the pressing issue of reducing the digital gender gap in Africa. Chido Mpemba, the African Union Youth Envoy, the youngest diplomat and senior official in the African Union Chairperson's Cabinet, moderated the webinar. The panel consisted of diverse experts, each bringing a unique perspective in and around the digital space. The keynote speakers were Mbali Hongwane, the founder and CEO of Pink Codrs Africa; Ruth Mtuwa, the co-founder of DroneX Technologies; and Dr Emmanuel Manasseh, the acting director for the International Telecommunications Union in Africa.  

Key speakers emphasised government policies, digital skills development, and investment in infrastructure. The webinar, brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss strategies for reducing the digital gender gap in Africa and the challenges women face in the technological space. Here are some highlights from the webinar:

Government policies and framework

Key to focus is the crucial role of government frameworks in creating inclusive, diverse, and transformational policies. Emmanuel Manasseh said, "To increase the representation of women in technological sectors, governments must create policies, backed by data, to ensure that more girls are taking STEM courses in schools all over Africa." 

The gender digital divide remains a pressing issue in the world's less developed countries. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), internet access globally is 65% for women versus 70% for men. This gap is especially widened in Africa, with 32% of women accessing internet use, compared to 42% of men, indicating a 10% divide. In Africa, the disparity in digital access is particularly concerning, given the overall low internet and digital technology adoption levels. This underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to ensure digital inclusion for all.

 Mbali Hlongwane, the Founder and CEO of Pink Codrs Africa, which has mentored over 500 young girls with the necessary digital skills in South Africa, highlighted the importance of encouraging the early development of technological skills in African youth, particularly women. "Preparing young women for digital transformation starts with equipping young African women with the tech skills needed in the technological spaces." 

Barriers to the digital world

During the webinar, some key challenges were discussed, including the lack of accessibility to technological platforms, the lack of proper digital infrastructure in most African countries, the high cost of internet access, limited access to information, and the influence of cultures and perspectives towards women's education in Africa. "For women to overcome these barriers in the digital space, we must work towards providing these digital platforms, come up with a holistic and inclusive approach, and take up steadfast leadership roles as women to empower young girls", said Ruth Mtuwa, the co-founder of DroneX.  

Skills for the future

A major focus of the webinar was developing digital skills for the future. As a developing continent, Africa's role in digital development will have to scale up to create digital literacy, which will produce competent digital professionals capable of driving innovation and economic growth. 

Africa's youthful population is a significant asset, with over 60% of the continent's population under 25. However, despite this demographic advantage, there is a pressing need to improve digital literacy rates among young people. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), only 6 per cent of children and young people in low-income countries have internet access compared to 87 per cent in high-income countries. This disparity underscores the importance of investing in digital education and training programs to equip Africa's youth with the skills they need to succeed in the digital space.  

"According to the World Economic Forum, 50% of employees will need to be reskilled by 2025," said Mbali Hlongwe, highlighting the importance of time consciousness in creating an ideal digital environment for young African women.  

Women Leaders in Digitalisation

The panellists emphasised the crucial role of governments and the private sector in reducing the gaps in the digital space. Policies should encourage women to assume leadership roles in the digital sector. This will ensure digital inclusivity is not limited to words on paper but is implemented on the ground. Furthermore, it will encourage more young women to pursue careers in the digital sphere. 

Investment in Digital Spaces 

The webinar also discussed government and private sector investments. Chido Mpemba underscored the importance of targeting young girls, providing them with high-quality training, and further investing in them. It underscores the importance of mentoring young girls to prepare them for positions within the digital sector in Africa.  

Ruth Mtuwa stated , "Young women must also have the digital literacy and skills to occupy these positions so that they are not merely given these opportunities simply because they are women, but because they are qualified and highly skilled".  

Conclusion  

Bridging the gender digital divide in Africa requires concerted efforts from governments, the private sector, and civil society. This includes creating inclusive policies, investing in digital literacy and training programs, and empowering women to take leadership roles in the digital sector. 

Collaboratiive efforts such as  iPRIS aims to bridge the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory authorities through peer-to-peer learning.  The regulators participating in the project include National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations across sub-Saharan Africa.iPRIS is implemented by SPIDER (the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions), the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR). In collaboration with the African Regional Regulatory Organisations, the implementers support the participating National Regulatory Authorities to achieve their strategic change initiatives.

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Every year on the third Thursday in April, the world celebrates International Girls in ICT Day. Girls in ICT Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of promoting girls' participation in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) using strong female role models in ICT-related fields and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. 

Like many regions, Africa faces a significant gender gap in the ICT sector. Girls in ICT Day raises awareness about this gap using role models to encourage girls to consider careers in technology, thereby helping to address disparities in access to and participation in the ICT industry. According to ITU, Digital technologies are an essential pathway to gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be possible until we close the digital gender gap.​

Africa's economy is increasingly reliant on technology and digital innovation. Encouraging more girls to enter the ICT sector helps to build a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and economic growth in the region.

This year, we have put together a digital campaign that features voices of leading women in ICT drawn from National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and iPRIS partner organisations across Africa. 

1. Abosede Olabimtam (Head of Procurement South& East Africa, General Manager Ericsson Zambia)

2. Dr. Caroline Wamala-Larsson (Director of SPIDER)

3.  Dr. Emma Anna Otieno (Deputy Director, Communications Authority of Kenya)

4.  Ms Minenhle Rollaine Masuku (Quality Services Engineer Eswatini Community Commission (ESCCOM)

5.  Dr. Katja Sarajeva (Program Manager ITP Network and Researcher at SPIDER)

6.  Moira Ayo Onek Leonzio (Special Programs Officer National Communications Authority (NCA) South Sudan)

The role of iPRIS

ICT Policy & Regulation – Institutional Strengthening (iPRIS) contributes to bridging the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory bodies. Targeting 43 countries in Africa, iPRIS aims to enhance inclusive digital connectivity and drive social and economic prosperity using ICT. 

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 project aims to provide inclusive peer-to-peer capacity-building for African National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations, recognising the significance of ICT policies and regulation in promoting digital inclusion, equitable access to the Internet, consumer rights protection, and personal data safeguarding.

 By highlighting the achievements of women in ICT and providing role models for young girls, the iPRIS girls in ICT campaign helps to break down notable  barriers such as:

1. Underrepresentation in STEM Education: Like in other parts of the world, women and girls in Africa are often underrepresented in STEM education, which serves as a pathway to careers in ICT. Factors such as cultural norms, lack of access to quality education, and stereotypes about gender roles can contribute to this disparity.
2. Workforce Participation: Women's participation in the ICT workforce in Africa varies by country and region. In many African countries, women are underrepresented in technical roles within the ICT sector, such as software development and engineering. However, women may be more represented in non-technical roles such as project management and administration.
3. Access to Digital Skills Training: Women and girls in Africa may face barriers to accessing digital skills training and ICT education programs. These barriers can include limited access to technology and internet connectivity, as well as cultural and socio-economic factors that may discourage girls from pursuing ICT-related fields.
4. Entrepreneurship and Leadership: Women are often underrepresented in ICT entrepreneurship and leadership positions in Africa. While there are initiatives aimed at promoting women's entrepreneurship and leadership in the ICT sector, such as mentorship programs and networking opportunities, more efforts are needed to address systemic barriers and biases.
5. Gender Pay Gap: Limited data is available on the gender pay gap specifically within the ICT sector in Africa. However, broader studies on gender pay disparities in the region suggest that women often earn less than men across various industries, including technology and ICT.

Addressing the gender gap

Efforts to address the gender gap in ICT in Africa include initiatives to promote STEM education for girls, provide digital skills training and mentorship programs, support women's entrepreneurship in the technology sector, and advocate for policies and practices that promote gender equality and inclusivity in the ICT workforce.

While progress has been made in some areas, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women and girls in Africa have equal opportunities to participate and succeed in the ICT sector. Continued investment in education, skills development, and gender-responsive policies and programs is essential for closing the gender gap and harnessing the full potential of Africa's digital economy.  Girls in ICT Day  encourages girls to pursue their interests in technology without fear of discrimination or bias.

For more media related queries/ more information about iPRIS 

Please contact,

Ms.Edna Soomre - Project lead, iPRIS

Email: ipris@spidercenter.org

www.ipris.digital

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The 13th AGM of The Communication Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa CRASA was held from 11- 13 April 2024 at the Royal Villas Hotel in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Eswatini.  The AGM was be hosted by the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCOM).

Dr. Bengt Mölleryd on the podium during the Annual General Meeting. Photo courtesy of iPRIS.

CRASA  organised a pre-AGM conference from the 8th to 10th of April 2024, themed “Innovation for Better Regulation”, which will also be hosted at the same venue. During the conference, Bengt Möllerydfrom SPIDER delivered a keynote presentation on the barriers to technological innovation.

(CRASA) is a forum for information and communications technologies (ICT) and postal regulators in Southern Africa. CRASA is a specialised agency of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and was set up in 1997 within the framework of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology (1995). CRASA consists of four institutions: the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Executive Committee (EC), the Specialized Committees, and the Secretariat. The RRO has 14 ICT and postal regulators from the SADC Region who are members of CRASA.

The Innovation for Better Regulation Conference

Over the years, the regulation landscape has undergone significant changes, influenced by technological advances, shifts in consumer demands and expectations, and evolving business models. To keep pace with this dynamic environment, CRASA Members must embrace innovation to enhance regulatory effectiveness, efficiency, and adaptability as regulators of the electronic communications and postal sectors.

Enhancing innovation in executing regulatory mandates is imperative in our increasingly digital and interconnected world. The Innovation for Better Regulation Conference will, therefore, tackle the following pertinent questions through interactive presentations, panels and roundtable discussions moderated by subject-matter experts from all over the world:

1. What are the key challenges in regulations that hinder innovation and digital transformation in the communications sector?
2. How can regulatory flexibility and agility be achieved when digital technologies evolve rapidly?
3. What are emerging technologies' potential risks and benefits, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G? How can innovation regulation maximise the benefits while mitigating the risks?
4. How do the rapidly evolving digital technologies and services impact competition policy?
5. How can innovative regulations foster expedited and secure cross-border flows of data, financial transactions, and merchandise to support regional and global e-commerce and trade?
6. How do differing cybersecurity and consumer protection approaches in various Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries affect innovation in cross-border digital services and products?
7. What is the role of digital ethics and data privacy in digital regulations, and how can they be integrated with the regulation to achieve responsible innovation?

The Provisional Conference programme can be accessed on the link:

https://events.crasa.org/media/INOVATION-FOR-BETTER-REGULATION-CONFERENCE-PROVISIONAL-PROGRAM_001.pdf

The second day of the iPRIS Africa Regional peer-to-peer capacity building workshop for the 2023 A cohort) included sessions on cybersecurity, risk assessment for 5G networks, project management, and broadband deployment.

About iPRIS

ICT Policy & Regulation – Institutional Strengthening (iPRIS) is a capacity-building project that focuses on boosting the capabilities of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and Regional Regulatory Organisations across Sub-Saharan Africa. Targeting 43 countries in Africa, iPRIS aims to enhance digital connectivity and drive social and economic prosperity using ICT. Building on the success of the ICT Regulation Policy and Practice (ITP) program by SPIDER and the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (2016-2022), iPRIS marks a strategic leap forward, focusing on empowering National Regulatory Authorities in Sub-Saharan Africa, boosting their capacity to shape and implement regulatory frameworks, especially in telecommunications..

The iPRIS project is implemented by  The SPIDER (the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions ), 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 project aims to provide inclusive peer-to-peer capacity-building for National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs), recognising the significance of ICT policies and regulations in promoting digital inclusion, equitable access to the Internet, consumer rights protection, and personal data safeguarding.

Here are some photo highlights from day 2 of the iPRIS Africa Region peer to peer workshop :

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The intensive four-day regional peer-to-peer capacity-building workshop (2023-A cohort) took place  (March 18-22) in Lusaka, Zambia. The participants included seven of the 43 National Regulatory Organisations (NRAs) covered by iPRIS and representatives from the Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs), in Africa including CRASA, WATRA, ARTAC and EACO (NRAs). The NRAs representatives include delegates from Kenya, South Sudan, Eswatini, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Namibia.  This peer-to-peer capacity-building session followed the intensive Europe Regional session held in November 2023 in Sweden.

To be part of iPRIS, a country has to be part of a Regional Regulatory Organisation (RRO), notably CRASA, WATRA, ARTAC, and EACO. RROs are the regional governing bodies responsible for developing and enforcing ICT regulations, policies, and standards to promote fair competition, ensure consumer protection, and foster development and innovation within their respective sectors.

Eng. Choolwe Nalubamba, Director General of ZICTA, Susanna Hughes from the Embassy of Sweden in Zambia, and Claudio Bacigalupi from the European Union. Photo credit: iPRIS

Peer-to-peer cooperation between the European Union and African region ICT regulators

During the opening on Monday 18th March,Claudio Bacigalupi from the European Union underscored the importance of collaboration in achieving regional harmonization and creating a more conducive environment for innovation, investment, and cross-border digital services. Bacigalui further added, “We want to have peer-to-peer cooperation between the European Union and African ICT regulators and have this is of utmost significance in achieving regional harmonisation. We are very happy to collaborate with Sweden in Luxembourg on this task; their collaborative approach can bring considerable benefits, including a more seamless digital ecosystem, enhanced Cross Border Services and greater opportunities.

Susanna Hughes from the Embassy of Sweden in Zambia remarked,  “As you may know, even though Africa's share of the world's population is now 17%, its share of global trade is only 3%. There are many challenges to strengthening regional trade in order to achieve the aspirations of the African continental free trade area. She stressed the importance of  ICT regulation as one of the important parts of the puzzle towards creating an interconnected digital ecosystem. “It's clear that better regional ICT harmonisation can strengthen cross-border digital services and economic growth. So while the challenges are many, the potential benefits are great”, she remarked. In her conclusion, Susanna Hughes stated, “As regulators, you will have an important responsibility to encourage competition while also ensuring digital inclusion and accessibility.”

During his address, Eng. Choolwe Nalubamba, Director General of ZICTA and host for the week stated, “Zambia has been one of the longest beneficiaries of the project, and there are a few issues that we can point to that we have benefited from this partnership, which include the work that we're doing under the digital financial services.”

iPRIS Cohort 2023-A Participants at the Regional Workshop in Zambia

Risk assessment for 5G networks, project management and inclusion, among the key topics covered 

The second day of the iPRIS Africa Regional peer-to-peer capacity building workshop for the 2023 A cohort) included sessions on cybersecurity, risk assessment for 5G networks, project management,  inclusion and broadband deployment.

About iPRIS

iPRIS aims to bridge the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory authorities through peer-to-peer learning. The regulators participating in the project include National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations across sub-Saharan Africa.

iPRIS is implemented by SPIDER (the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions), the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR). In collaboration with the African Regional Regulatory Organisations, the implementers support the participating National Regulatory Authorities to achieve their strategic change initiatives.

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).

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Alexandra Högberg from SPIDER Center interviewed Mbirimuje Ngupandjara - Revenue accountant, Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia, along the sidelines of the Sweden 2023 phase. In this interview, Mbirimuje Ngupandjara weighs in on collaboration and universal access for ICT advancement.

This interview has been edited for clarity and readability.

Mbirimuje Ngupandjara: My name is Mbirimuje Ngupandjara, revenue accountant for the Communications Regulatory Authority in Namibia (CRAN). I'm responsible for everything related to revenue collection, ensuring that the regulator has funds to run all its operations.

AH: During the Spider PTS programme, you managed to work on the Completion of the consumer protection regulations and implementation of QOS regulations - could you recap the project and how it has been of impact to the sector?

MN:  Well, this is actually one of the Change Initatives (CI's) I believe that produced really great results. In quality of service, it's something that's quite important. We don't only want our operators to provide services to the people, but then lack service. When we carried out this project, we undertook to find out from consumers in terms of whether they are aware of their rights. Where do they complain if the quality of service is not good or if they feel like they are violated in terms of what is due to them and the end consumers, initially, were not aware, and as a regulator, we took time to do surveys.\,  and I must say our communications department did a stellar job. All the trade fairs, they always have consumer awareness.

The awareness is out there. Because initially, consumers were not aware of that, and one particular initiative has to do with our national broadband policy, of which in terms of coverage, CRAN as a regulator was able to ensure that as we meet the minimum entry requirements of ensuring that every user has an internet connection of two megabytes per second. In the coverage rate, the success rate is 80%. So we have actually met our program policy in that. However, that's an entry requirement. But we have set the standard. As a regulator, we dictate to the operators that if you're providing internet, it cannot be less than this. So now we move on to the next part, which is obviously more speed, as we've heard here in Sweden, it's 100 megabits per second. We are quite far from that, but it's still achievable.

As a regulator, we are doing our job, and the market actually responds well, to the regulator. We enforce, they comply, they make it happen in there is actually a very good dialogue between the regulator and the stakeholders, the business operators, so we consult them already in advance. We're thinking about ABC and D, how can we make it possible, involve them in regulations. We have a lot of stakeholder engagements as well. By the time that they need to take this to market, they have already agreed in essence, and when we pass the regulations, particularly when it comes to tariffs, and then you know, the standardisation of technology, they are always important.

AH:  Could you please give an overview of the ICT sector in your country? What specific challenges does your country/region face in the current global telecommunication landscape, and how will you change initiative address this?

MN:  In terms of Namibia, we are talking about a country that has a population density of three people per square kilometre. We have about 2.6 million inhabitants, but the country is quite fast. We have people that are more or less 40% to 50% that are residing in the capital and that you will consider as an urban area. So, when it comes to connectivity in the urban areas, in terms of our broadband policy, we are on par, we are on track. However, our challenge comes in the rural areas, because we have close to 60% of people that reside in the rural areas. The first challenge that we can say is that people do not have access to digital ICT services, primarily the infrastructure is not there. The second challenge is the language barrier as well, those that will be in rural areas.

Also, most of them do not speak English as their native language. There is that barrier when it comes to participating in ICT services, ecommerce, etc. But addressing the first area of the challenge has to do with rolling out ICT infrastructure to rural areas, and due to a population which is not quite large, in terms of the operators recovering their revenue from the local communities has been a challenge and operators cannot merely just by willpower, even though they want to roll out services because there is no business case. They will not be able to recover this OPEX and CAPEX that is required. Where we come in as a regulator then has to do with universal access regulations in that’s where our CI is mainly focused, because as part of our strategy as CRAN, we want to ensure that you know, in terms of universal access, that everyplace, every child, the Namibian child, even in the rural area, will have access to ICT services. We saw this was a big challenge with the COVID 19 pandemic, where in urban areas we have children that are learning through digital means either on WhatsApp, or on Zoom.

In terms of the rural population, they didn't even have network coverage, let alone access to the internet. Then you have to send them home, and then there'll be a year behind in terms of education. Our CI aims to ensure that we get the operators on board, to roll out infrastructure, and trying to find ways as a regulator hub to support our local stakeholders in making sure that when they put up a site, they can also recover the operational costs because that's the biggest thing, monetising a site ensuring that the local community makes use of the site in that you don't just merely put up a site, and then they don't use it. We have plans and strategies how to do that, and together with management team, and support from our regional body, CRASA will be working urgently as a matter of urgency on this to ensure that we bring a change that nobody in the rural areas should be left behind. That's the crux of our CI:  to provide ICT services in rural areas in the underserved area so that all the Namibian population can have access as a matter of life.

AH:  How can regulators contribute to the advancement of the ICT sector in Africa?

MN:  What we've seen from all the discussions in all the training that we've received, every country has its own unique challenges. The biggest one, or the biggest gap in Africa that we have identified is the lack of collaboration. I can take the EU, for instance, where you have a standard set of regulations which are passed down throughout the whole zone. That can be linked to the advancement or how advanced they are. They all have the different infrastructures and minor variances. But what we can learn from it's really the collaboration between all the different NRAs, the different stakeholders, the MNOs, the different government agencies, and local authorities and then we'll see a change because just trying to push regulations and everybody has to comply doesn't necessarily bring everybody to the table to contribute. But when we take the collaborative approach, then it makes everything so easier. As an example, we have stock up.

A classic example from Sweden, that is where every citizen or operator can actually log in and say, I want to lay fiber in this area, or I want to connect, where is fiber, and everybody has access to this. You don't get multiple people digging along the street, or somebody digging in the street, and then they damage somebody else's fiber, and this is a challenge that we have in Africa, where you have two operators on the same street, one digging on the other side, just to provide fiber, and the end result is the end user has to pay for that cost. But if you have everybody just doing one thing, now you can focus on providing excellent service to the end consumer and then you end up reducing the cost. Even infrastructure sharing, we've learned a lot how different operators share their infrastructure. I believe this is actually key in terms of a rural population, where you might have a backhaul from one operator where everybody can share and collaborate so that they can bring services to the one area.

There is national roaming, for instance, we all know about international roaming, but, you know, different operators, switching networks, particularly in rural areas where there's not a lot of people that will use the sites. So that might be an option as well, but the key is we need harmonised regulations across Africa. We need to learn from what other countries have done. Like taking an example Kenya has done a lot of work on universal access, and we have learned what not to do or what to try, that might yield better results. So just that international cooperation is needed instead of every country just trying to solve their own problems while somebody else might have the solution already.

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Alexandra Högberg from SPIDER Center interviewed Thomas Mohamed Jusu - Manager Frequency Planning and Spectrum Management; National Communications Authority, Sierra Leone (NatCA), along the Sweden 2023 phase. In this interview, Thomas Mohamed Jusu weighs in on spectrum management tools and quality of service instruments.

This interview has been edited for clarity and readability.

Thomas Jusu: I'm Tomas Mohammad Yousuf from Sierra Leonne National Communications Authority. I am the manager for frequency planning and spectrum management.

AH: How can regulators contribute to the advancement of the ICT sector in Africa?

TJ: In terms of the sector, the regulator's the custodian of the market. We regulate all aspects of the ICT sector. For Siera Leone in particular, not only mobile, every sector of the ICT is under our purview. So, regulators determine the code of the markets, because we have our main objective, we have to be very much professional, we have to give respect to operators because they are investing their money, we have to have integrity for ourselves as regulators, then there should be fairness in the markets, and we give room for innovation. At the end of it, it all comes down with transparency.

If the regulator is transparent, then you will see how new entrants will be in the market and how the existing ones will continue to invest in the market, which will bring in a lot of employment to the citizens, good service to the citizens as well our customers at the end of the day, we all make good use of the services they provide, even though we are regulated, where we are all in the market as well. So, having a good regulation as a regulator will encourage the investors who primary operators of the market to invest more and other new entrants to come into the market, which will end up to impact the good citizens. So that is supposed to be the role of the regulator in every country so that we can have a good environment in the ICT sector.

AH: What specific challenges does your country/region face in the current global telecommunication landscape? And how will your change initiatives address this?

TJ: A lot of challenges specifically on our change initiative. We have a lot of gaps in our spectrum regulations, because for example, the 5G that is now coming into the market for us, we have just given some trial resources to operators so that they can do some tests. But we have we don't have any guideline, any policy any strategy on how to license the 5G spectrum. So we are learning from this change initiative so that when we go back we can advise our administration on how we can license or whether we are going to use it but we are going with guidelines for them so that we can all come together and they can agree with us so that we can have the same path in how we go into license the 5G because we expect this 5G to have a good impact on everybody like the government, the consumers and then the operators.

So, we have to have some guidelines and policies, so that we cannot just rush into making the decision, but decisions that can have an economic impact on the country. But in terms of other challenges that we have as a sector, currently in the in the in the engineering department, we lack monitoring vehicles for us to even detect whether operators are using assigned frequency or whether they are using more than what we are assigning to them. We cannot because we don't have the tools that is really lacking right now, almost five years, what we used to have is obsolete. We have not been able to secure any new ones, we are still looking for a better price.

But the biggest thing is lack of resources to get what we need. The resources that we are getting from what we earn from this because we don't have other source of income, the only source of rigor is the regulations, the regulatory fees, we collect from operators. From COVID to now, it has been very challenging, we cannot add prices, because it will negatively impact on the consumers. So, inflation has caught down to our income. What we used to earn $400,000 is more or less like 50% cut down. But we cannot just change it overnight, because it will negatively impact consumers and the markets and that will give a negative signal to the government. So, government is not allowing us as regulators. Whatever we want to change, you have to go to government for approval, go to the parliament. So it is difficult for so our source of income has dropped, and that has caused a lot of challenge for us to acquire some tools which will empower us to regulate the industry very well.

AH: Is there anything else you would like to add?

TJ: For Sierra Leone, basically, if there is a need and there is room for support, we are pleading to any, whether it's regulatory body, whether it is vendors, whether operators, big operators that can help us with spectrum management tools, quality of service tools, which are the primary for any operator. All other departments depend on these two departments. These two departments provide better service for the consumers and the government as well, because if we have tools to monitor, tools to manage the spectrum, then the impact will be very good for everybody. But the market now, more or less the operators, they are free to do everything because we lack the equipment to go after them. It’s just on paper, we just call them talk to them, but how can we go out there and see that what they are doing is within the law. That is what is really challenging for us. So we are asking any good samaritan that will come to our aid, if there is anything they have that they all they are not using, we can make good use of as operator, we are pleading for that.

AH: Okay, thank you so much.

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During November 2023,  national regulators from Eswatini, Kenya, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Zambia took part in a 2.5 weeks training programme in Stockholm, Sweden as part of the European phase of the iPRIS training.

Alexandra Högberg from SPIDER Center interviewed Dr. Emma Otieno from the Communications Authority of Kenya along the Sweden 2023 phase. In this interview, Dr. Emma Otieno weighs in on the important role national regulators play in ensuring affordability and digital inclusion.

This interview has been edited for clarity and readability.

Emma Otieno: My name is Dr. Emma Otieno. I work with the national regulator that is the Communications Authority of Kenya. Communication authority of Kenya is a regulatory body for the ICT industry, in Kenya. Within the regulator, I work in the Universal Service Fund function, where we actually seek to support the country in achieving its digital transformation agenda through running out projects for digital inclusivity.

Alexandra Högberg: What role do you see the regulator's playing in ensuring that Africa takes its share of the digital transformation revolution?

EO: I think the regulator is the most critical institution within the government set up for the development of ICTs. This is because the regulator is the key link between the national discussion and the global discussion, and as we all know, is that ICT development has now become a boundaries, a kind of an undertaking, and we need to have this conversation with partners with collaborators and financiers, with donors, with the technical minds, and it is a conversation that cannot happen in country. So with the regulatory linkage between the association starting from the regional associations, for instance, in East Africa, we have the East Africa community communication organisation. At the African level, we have the Africa Telecommunications Union, then we move on to like institutions like the International Telecommunications Union, that is the ITU. So, these are linkage that the regulator creates between the internal and external is the most critical. Secondly, the regulator has the expertise in terms of the different segments of what we require for digital development of digital transformation. We know about issues over competition management, Universal Service Fund, quality management, making communication services affordable, accessible, and also in terms of ensuring that there is equity. So the regulator is a person or an institution that ensures us this is all happening in a coordinated manner.

AH: What are the challenges and opportunities nationally and regionally that you think you want to highlight in terms of ensuring that we leave no one behind?

EO: There are several challenges, especially in the developing country. One is the affordability of communication services. That is an issue that we really have to address because of competing interests between how to access food, how to access other basic essentials, and communication, which has just joined this segment of what we would call basic necessities. So the cost of communication services, the cost of broadband, the cost of buying airtime, the cost of devices. And this is not being made better by the rate at which the inflation is happening in developing countries, taxation issues, these are really becoming top of the issues causing affordability or access to services. And then of course, the nature of policies that we are adopting in the developing countries and the rate at which these policies have been changed and very slow. So coming up with synergies between the legislation, the executive, and even the judiciary, arms of government so that they can bring synergy to come up with policies and regulations that are working towards enhancing affordability enhancing accessibility, enhancing availability over ICTs is quite an issue that we see, and then there's another issue in terms of like the devices. Other than affording the service itself, access to devices in Africa because we are not a manufacturing segment of the globe, most of the times we import devices. So smart handsets, which are actually the basic of accessing broadband have become quite expensive and with the increase in the exchange rates we are seeing right now the dollar rate is going higher and higher by the day. So that means that whatever is being imported, is actually costing more. So that is really becoming an encumbrance in terms of how we can actually ensure that people have access to device, so they already have a smart device, you cannot access broadband. And also the cost of rolling out broadband is not easy. The government's are competing with budgets. They have many, many interests, education, health. So actually, investing in rolling out infrastructure has also become quite a challenge for the countries in the developing side of this world. So affordability issues or financing, issues of devices, issues of policies and regulations that are actually ensuring that in diversity, equity inclusion, quite some of these things that we must collaboratively look at to ensure that no one is left behind.

AH: Thank you.

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Alexandra Högberg from SPIDER Center interviewed Obioma Benson Kekeocha - Principal Manager, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), along the sidelines of the Sweden 2023 phase. In this interview, Obioma Benson Kekeocha weighs in on competition, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This interview has been edited for clarity and readability.

Alexandra Högberg: Could you please introduce yourself?

Benson Kekeocha: My name is Benson Kekeocha, I work with Nigeria Communications Commission.

AH: How can regulators contribute to the advancement of the ICT sector in Africa,

BK: Regulators in Africa will contribute to the advancement of technology in Africa by ensuring that the policies in their respective countries is such that contributes to the enhancement of technologies. For instance, now that where we are moving towards the new digital era, regulations should be such that is open, that should be kind of develop regulations which ensure that our regulations are such that will not stifle competition, will not stifle innovation, but we enhance development and innovation of the sector. So what we'll do right now is to ensure that all our regulatory instrument are such that if they are not in line they should be reviewed to accommodate issues that will encourage and develop the industrial.

AH: What specific challenges does your country/region face in the current global telecommunication landscape? And how will your change initiative address this?

BK: We have a couple of challenges with respect to the delivery of telecom services. There's so many challenges that ranges from right of way issues, power issues, to competition issues, just abundance and competitive conduct. So, our change initiative has to do with competition, tariff issues in existing and emerging technologies. And talking about the issues related to competition, we have issues to do with identifying such anti-competitive conducts in industry, such as predatory pricing, cost of taxation, margin squeeze discriminatory pricing, identifying agreements or arrangements among operators that has an anti competitive practices. So these are challenges.

In terms of tariff, we have to ensure that every tariff we implement incorporates costs, operational services, it is transparent, and non-discriminative. So our tariffs must be cost effective, and subscriber friendly. So in our change initiatives, we've been able to streamline it to assessing the level of competition in the wholesale broadband and retail data market segment. This segment is not effectively competitive. Because in a vertical  integrated market segment where you have an SMP, the SMP carries out certain conduct that lessens the performance of other competitors in the industry. So our change initiative, we aim at identifying those conducts/practices, that lessens competition, and proper solutions, regulatory framework that could be targeted at making sure that every player in industry and choice services.

AH: Part of the iPRIS project, you also have the component of gender diversity, equity and inclusion. What have you taken away from that segment and how you work with your change initiative or how your organisation works with making sure that no one is behind it the digital transformation journey.

BK: With respect to change initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusiveness in my region or in my environment, we ensure that we consult widely, we carry everyone along because for every decision that borders all these stakeholders, which includes both the operator and the subscribers, we must ensure that they are consulted, and then we don't want to leave anyone behind. We try to ensure that we bridge the gap, the digital divide and assure that everyone is inclusive, is always included in assessing services with either aspects of your gender, your age, or your race, you carry everyone along. With respect to our tariffs, you know, we assure that every tariff we implement cuts across the entire country. We do not implement any sectional or discriminatory tariff or services, everyone is being carried around to ensure that there is inclusiveness in our service, irrespective of your gender, or your tribe, or your financial status.

AH: Highlights from the time here in Sweden?

BK: I think the program is well thought out. It has helped to bring in people from various parts of Africa for capacity building. We benchmark or we have knowledge of what happens with other jurisdictions, and we try to pass on this also, and I think it's a good program. From time to time, each MCI will help to develop with other region that identify this as a challenge.

AH: The peer to peer learning is a key component of iPRIS. Are there any specific lessons or opportunities or tips that you have taken on board from any of the other national regulatory authorities that you would like to highlight?

BK: Not quite, because NCC, we have gone ahead, we're far ahead of so many other regulatory agencies in the Sub Saharan Africa. In each of the segments, talking about intact rates, we have been developing over time, computer assessment issues, designated operator in the voice and data segment. We’re foremost, so being with them here, they learn from us. There's no area of regulatory instrument that we have not touched on, from reverse service provision to having a Consumer Affairs Bureau, to pricing, to competition, to licensing, to spectrum issues, where we’re far ahead of them.

When I mentioned that, we have developed a regulation for spectral trading, it sounds strange to them because today, if you don't use the spectrum, you don't lose it. Okay, your spectrum, you can trade it, which means you can transfer it, you can share it, you can lose it, these are things they are learning from us. Okay, we have developed regulation with respect to national roaming. When I told him that look, we have developed national roaming guidelines, and two operators have tested or have a trial period for national roaming, it sounds strange. Talking about regulations on infrastructure, sharing a co-location. So most of Africa countries, they're happy to learn from what Nigeria has with respect to the telecom sector in Nigeria.

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