By Amin Kef Sesay
The 13th Smart Africa Council of African Regulators Meeting is currently underway at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. This prestigious gathering has convened Telecoms Regulators from across the African continent to deliberate on pivotal issues concerning telecommunications service delivery to the people of Africa.
Amara Brewah, the Director General of NatCA, is notably present at the event, representing both the telecoms regulator in Sierra Leone and serving as the Chairman of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA).
Key focal points of discussion at this gathering include updates on the Smart Africa Triennial Strategy for 2023 – 2025, the establishment of Rules of Procedure for the Council of African Regulators (CAR), and the election of new CAR Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons. Furthermore, sessions are dedicated to training on best practices in submarine cable policy, particularly emphasizing investment in Digital Inclusion.
Esteemed figures such as Daud Suleman, Director General of MACRA, Lacina Kone, Director General of Smart Africa, and Celestine Kadjidja, President of CAR & ARCEP Gabon, have delivered insightful statements during the sessions.
Central to the discussions is the vision of achieving One Africa Network (OAN), emphasizing the critical role of connectivity in shaping a prosperous digital future for Africa. Brian Longwe of Converged Technology Network delivered a presentation on “Addressing Disparities and Challenges in Subsea Cable Infrastructure across Africa,” underlining the significance of interconnectivity.
During the proceedings, DG Brewah highlighted the rapid response of Zoodlabs in restoring connectivity in Sierra Leone following a recent subsea cable cut in West Africa. While some countries faced days of disconnection, Sierra Leone’s subsea cable challenge was resolved in a mere forty-five minutes, showcasing the effectiveness of established redundancies. DG Brewah’s remarks were met with a round of applause, underscoring the importance of robust telecommunications infrastructure in the region.
