WATRA and ECOWAS Join Forces to Revolutionise Digital and Cybersecurity Frameworks in West Africa

In a landmark gathering in Praia, Cabo Verde, the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) and the ECOWAS Commission have ignited a new era of digital transformation and cybersecurity in West Africa.

This year’s ECOWAS Digital Observatory (ECODOB) annual meeting saw an unprecedented collaboration that promises to bolster digital infrastructure, enhance data accuracy, and fortify cybersecurity across the region.

The event attracted National Correspondents for Indicators (NCIs) from 11 ECOWAS member states, including: Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

For the first time, WATRA took part in the proceedings following a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding with the ECOWAS Commission aimed at advancing the ECODOB program.

A Gathering of Minds and Data

The primary agenda was to validate data from NCIs and scrutinise the 2023 digital report covering telecommunications, ICT, and postal services.

Participants delved into regional telecommunications trends spanning 2021 to 2023, Internet subscription metrics, and infrastructure mapping, including submarine and terrestrial fibre cable networks, Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), and data centres. Postal service indicators such as coverage areas and financial outcomes were also rigorously reviewed.

Also read: ITU and WATRA Partner to Boost ICT Infrastructure Mapping in West Africa

WATRA’s presentation underscored the critical importance of precise data. The assembly proposed collaborative strategies grounded in best practices from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the GSM Association (GSMA).

“WATRA is dedicated to collaborating with ECOWAS to ensure our digital infrastructure meets the highest standards,” stated Mr Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, Executive Secretary of WATRA. “This meeting has been a significant step towards that goal.”

Key Recommendations for a Digital Future

The meeting concluded with several transformative recommendations, including:

• Prioritising Internet subscription metrics
• Establishing a subcommittee focused on cybersecurity indicators
• Harmonising data collection methodologies
• Enhancing collaboration with national regulatory authorities on cybersecurity

Additional recommendations included annual updates to the national terrestrial map, the inclusion of telecommunication tariff indicators, and a comprehensive revamp of the ECODOB platform for improved data analysis and reporting.

Ms Marie Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Programme Officer for e-government and e-application at the ECOWAS Commission, expressed her optimism, stating, “We are optimistic about further fruitful collaborations between the ECOWAS Commission and Member States to enhance the ECODOB programme.”

Commitment to a Digital Revolution

Mrs Leonide Dos Santos, President of ARME, highlighted ECODOB’s crucial role in the digital ecosystem, asserting, “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.”

Chairperson Mrs Larai Mohammed extended her gratitude to all participants, emphasising the importance of ongoing efforts. She urged NCIs to ensure timely and accurate data submission for future validations and wished everyone a safe journey back to their respective countries.

A Vision for the Future

The collaboration between WATRA and ECOWAS at the ECODOB meeting signifies a monumental leap forward for the region’s digital and postal sectors.

By honing in on data accuracy, infrastructure enhancement, and cybersecurity, this partnership is set to spearhead sustainable digital transformation and economic growth across West Africa.

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