This landmark agreement aims to create a harmonised information and communication technology (ICT) market. It marks a significant step forward for West Africa, which is seeking to create a single market based on the European Union model. Regulators hammered out the new framework during a three-day validation workshop throughout September, and which was chaired by Major John Tandoh, Acting Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana.
More than 100 participants took part in the event, including representatives from the regulatory authorities of Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d?Ivoire, Ghana, the Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo as well as regional organisations including , the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS*), the European Commission, the FCC, the West African Monetary Union (UEMOA), USAID and members of the private sector.
Market-based Approach
By favouring a market-based approach to the provision of ICT services, the new guidelines are designed to spur investment and development in the West African ICT sector. Once widely adopted, it is hoped that they will prove instrumental in helping propel some of the world?s poorest nations into the Information Society. "These guidelines are in keeping with international best practices, but tailored to the West African market," said Major Tandoh. "They will allow us to think globally, and act locally."
The new harmonised regional framework, which covers interconnection, licensing, numbering, spectrum management, universal access and ICT policy and legislation, was formally approved by the 3rd Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), chaired by Daniel Seck, WATRA chairman and Director General of Senegal?s Agence de Régulation des Télécommunications (ART).
"I am delighted that WATRA has played such an important role in bringing the region together to achieve its goal of creating a harmonised ICT market," said Mr Seck after the meeting.
ITU / EU Offer Support
The Director of ITU?s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), Hamadoun I Touré, was also pleased about the new regional approach: "These guidelines offer West Africa a state-of-the-art regulatory framework. ITU is proud to be associated with such a quality product," he said.
Developed under the auspices of ITU?s West African ICT Market Harmonisation project, which is being financed by the European Commission and administered by ITU?s Regulatory Reform Unit (RRU), the project involved lengthy consultations with the region?s regulators, operators, service providers and civil society, as well as input from a group of internationally-renowned regulatory experts from Africa and Europe.
The guidelines will now be submitted to national communications ministers and heads of state of the ECOWAS and UEMOA for approval as directives to be applied throughout the region. "This is a watershed project that has catalysed regional unity, and which we hope will serve as a model for future African ICT regulatory projects," noted Harry De-Backer, Principal Administrator, Information Society, New Technologies, of the European Commission?s Development Directorate-General.
*ECOWAS comprises the twelve countries already mentioned plus Benin, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone and Togo. All but two ECOWAS countries have been classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries.
