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By Chinenye Anuforo
Other News
The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) joined forces with the ECOWAS Commission at the annual ECOWAS Digital Observatory (ECODOB) meeting held recently in Praia, Cabo Verde. This key meeting signifies a new chapter in their collaboration to improve digital infrastructure, data precision, and cybersecurity across West Africa.
Representatives from 11 ECOWAS member states, including Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, participated in the meeting. WATRA’s participation stemmed from a strategic Memorandum of Understanding signed with the ECOWAS Commission to strengthen the ECODOB program.
The meeting’s primary goal was to validate data submitted by National Correspondents for Indicators (NCIs) and assess the 2023 digital report on telecommunications, ICT, and postal services. Discussions centered on regional telecommunications trends from 2021 to 2023, internet subscription metrics, and infrastructure mapping, encompassing West Africa’s submarine and terrestrial fiber cable networks, IXPs, and data centers. Postal service indicators, including coverage and financial performance, were also reviewed.
WATRA emphasized the significance of accurate and relevant data during their presentation. They proposed collaborative methods based on best practices established by ITU and GSMA.
Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, WATRA’s executive secretary, reaffirmed their commitment to the partnership, stating, “WATRA is dedicated to working alongside ECOWAS to guarantee our digital infrastructure fulfills the highest standards. This meeting has been a substantial step towards that objective.”
The meeting yielded several key recommendations, such as prioritizing internet subscription metrics, establishing a subcommittee for cybersecurity indicators, unifying data collection methods, and intensifying collaboration with national regulatory authorities on cybersecurity. Additional recommendations included yearly updates to the national terrestrial map, incorporating telecommunication tariff indicators, and revamping the ECODOB platform for enhanced data analysis and reporting.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Marie Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Program Officer for e-government and e-application at the ECOWAS Commission, expressed appreciation to WATRA for their active participation. “We are optimistic regarding further successful collaborations between the ECOWAS Commission and Member States to strengthen the ECODOB programme,” she said.
Mrs. Leonide Dos Santos, President of ARME, underscored the importance of ECODOB in the digital ecosystem, stating, “We remain committed to working on the statistical indicators of the Telecommunications/ICT/Postal sector to contribute to constructing the desired digital market in ECOWAS.”
Mrs. Larai Mohammed, the Chairperson, expressed her gratitude to all participants and emphasized the significance of the ongoing efforts. She urged NCIs to ensure timely and accurate data submission for upcoming validations and wished everyone a safe return to their respective countries.
WATRA’s collaboration with ECOWAS at the ECODOB meeting signifies a significant step forward for the digital and postal sectors in the region. By focusing on data accuracy, infrastructure improvement, and cybersecurity, this partnership is poised to propel sustainable digital transformation and economic growth across West Africa.
