At this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC25) in Spain, Amara Brewah, Chair of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) and head of Sierra Leone’s National Communications Authority (NCA) delivered a powerful message: West Africa’s digital transformation must go hand in hand with sustainability.
Speaking to a global audience, Brewah stressed the need for a smarter, greener telecommunications sector and called for fairer spectrum pricing across the continent. “We’re at a crossroads,” Brewah said. “Telecommunications are transforming lives—from classrooms to clinics—but this growth must be mindful of the climate.”
He urged telecommunications companies to lead on sustainability by adopting energy-efficient networks, using solar power, and enforcing strong e-waste policies. “We’ve got a real chance to set the pace globally—why not become the region known for green telecom?”
Brewah also highlighted the high cost of spectrum in Africa as a major obstacle to digital inclusion. “Connectivity shouldn’t be a luxury,” he emphasised. “Affordable spectrum is essential, especially for rural and underserved communities.”
A GSMA report supports this concern, noting that African countries often pay more for spectrum relative to GDP than Europe or North America, which slows the rollout of 4G, 5G, and even future 6G networks.
Brewah called for coordinated regional policies that promote transparency, set realistic carbon reduction targets, and incentivise sustainability. He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector to scale clean energy solutions, particularly in rural areas still dependent on diesel-powered towers or lacking coverage entirely.
His remarks echoed a warning from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which projects that the ICT sector could contribute up to 14% of global carbon emissions by 2040 if changes aren’t made.
Ultimately, Brewah’s address was more than a policy pitch—it was a call to action. He envisions a telecommunications revolution that advances connectivity and environmental responsibility, ensuring that digital progress benefits everyone without leaving the planet—or the unconnected—behind.
