Southern African telecoms regulators are calling for more agile, proactive and collaborative approaches to regulation as emerging technologies rapidly reshape the communications sector.
The issue was central to the 46th Ordinary Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), which opened in Mangochi, Malawi. The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), which currently holds the rotating CRASA chairpersonship, is hosting the three-day meeting.
MACRA Director-General Mayamiko Nkoloma said technologies including artificial intelligence, satellite services, cross-border digital platforms and new cybersecurity threats are transforming the communications landscape, while consumers expect faster, affordable and reliable services.
“We cannot regulate tomorrow’s technologies using yesterday’s approaches,” Nkoloma said, urging regulators to strengthen knowledge sharing, harmonise regulatory approaches where appropriate and develop common regional positions.
The meeting will also examine legal and economic frameworks relating to consumer protection and universal service access across the region, alongside broader challenges including cybercrime, online fraud and other digital harms.
Established in 1997 and headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana, CRASA brings together communications regulators from the SADC region to promote regulatory and policy harmonisation across the ICT, broadcasting and postal sectors.
