WATRA Advances Unified Regulation for Digital Economy

The West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) is intensifying its efforts to harmonize digital regulations across the region, as West Africa's digital economy surpasses $200 billion. This initiative was reaffirmed in a statement released following WATRA's 4th workgroup meeting held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The meeting focused on aligning regulatory frameworks to support the next phase of digital growth across member states. WATRA's Executive Secretary, Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, emphasized the importance of dialogue and practical regulatory tools to guide national actions.

The technical report finalized during the meeting covers priority areas including 5G deployment, submarine cable resilience, cybersecurity frameworks, consumer protection, and non-geostationary satellite systems. WATRA noted the rapid expansion of digital financial services and technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, which necessitate adaptive regulatory approaches.

The organization aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable distribution of benefits from digital transformation across the region.