The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) recently announced that they are working on initiatives to promote infrastructure sharing among West African countries in order to reduce the cost of Internet access for telecom subscribers in the region.
Mr Aliyu Aboki, the Executive Secretary of WATRA, revealed this during a virtual meeting with stakeholders. He emphasized that sharing infrastructure such as gateways and data centres could significantly lower the cost of internet access and enhance the digital economy in the region.
Aboki highlighted the positive impact of increased internet penetration and mobile connectivity on the region’s digital economy, which currently contributes around US$30 billion annually to the GDP.
WATRA has identified a key challenge affecting regional users’ internet access costs. The lack of interconnectivity among data centres in West Africa means that data must often be routed through Europe before reaching its destination within Africa. This unnecessary routing through Europe increases the cost of internet access. WATRA is committed to addressing this issue by promoting interconnectivity within the region, which is expected to help reduce costs.
Beyond infrastructure sharing, WATRA is also working with national regulators in West African countries to improve universal service policies and boost rural connectivity. Additionally, the organization plays a crucial role in harmonizing regulatory frameworks and policies for the telecommunications and ICT sectors in the region.
Established in 2002, WATRA serves as a platform for telecommunications and ICT regulators in West Africa to exchange information, share best practices, and coordinate their efforts. The organization also develops and implements the West African Common Regulatory Framework for Telecommunications and ICT, which provides guidelines and principles for regulating the sector in the region. WATRA’s efforts aim to ensure consistency and compatibility in the region’s telecommunications and ICT policies and regulations.
