WATRA and ECOWAS collaborate to enhance digital infrastructure and cybersecurity in West Africa
The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) has partnered with the ECOWAS Commission at the recent annual ECOWAS Digital Observatory (ECODOB) meeting in Praia, Cabo Verde.
The collaboration aims to enhance digital infrastructure, data accuracy, and cybersecurity across West Africa, marking the beginning of a new era of cooperation.
National Correspondents for Indicators (NCIs) from 11 ECOWAS member states, including Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, participated in the meeting. This year marked WATRA’s inaugural participation, following a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the ECOWAS Commission to improve the ECODOB program.
The primary objective of the meeting was to validate data received from NCIs and review the 2023 digital report on telecommunications, ICT, and postal services. Participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on regional telecommunications trends from 2021 to 2023, Internet subscription metrics, and infrastructure mapping. This included West African submarine and terrestrial fiber cable infrastructure, IXPs, and data centers. Postal service indicators, such as coverage areas and financial results, were also reviewed.
WATRA delivered a presentation highlighting the importance of accurate and relevant data, proposing collaboration methods based on best practices from ITU and GSMA. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, Executive Secretary of WATRA, emphasized WATRA’s commitment to this partnership, stating, “WATRA is dedicated to collaborating with ECOWAS to ensure that our digital infrastructure meets the highest standards. This meeting has been a significant step towards that goal.”
The meeting resulted in several key recommendations, including focusing on Internet subscription metrics, establishing a subcommittee for cybersecurity indicators, harmonizing data collection methods, and enhancing collaboration with national regulatory authorities on cybersecurity. Other recommendations involved updating the national terrestrial map annually, including telecommunication tariff indicators, and revamping the ECODOB platform for better data analysis and reporting.
In her closing remarks, Marie Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Program Officer for e-government and e-application of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed gratitude to WATRA for their active participation. “We are optimistic about further fruitful collaborations between the ECOWAS Commission and Member States to enhance the ECODOB programme,” she said.
Leonide Dos Santos, President of ARME, emphasized the role of ECODOB in the digital ecosystem, saying, “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 Larai Mohammed expressed her gratitude to all participants and emphasized the importance of ongoing efforts. She invited NCIs to ensure timely and accurate data submission for future validations and wished everyone a safe journey back to their respective countries.
WATRA’s collaboration with ECOWAS at the ECODOB meeting marks a significant advancement in the region’s digital and postal sectors. By focusing on data accuracy, infrastructure enhancement, and cybersecurity, this partnership is set to drive sustainable digital transformation and economic growth across West Africa.
