Abayomi Susan
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for closer collaboration among telecommunications and communications regulators across Africa to enhance the use of data, market intelligence, and evidence-based insights in shaping more effective and responsive regulatory policies.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the call while speaking at the Heads of Regulators Roundtable during the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26) held in Abuja.
Dr. Maida noted that communications regulation has become increasingly critical to driving economic growth, digital transformation, and sustainable national development across the continent.
He observed that although African regulators operate under different legal frameworks and market conditions, they continue to grapple with similar challenges, including broadband infrastructure development, cybersecurity, affordability of services, satellite communications, network resilience, and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence technologies.
According to him, engagements among regulatory authorities frequently reveal shared experiences and practical solutions that can help address complex policy and regulatory issues more effectively. He therefore advocated for a more structured and systematic approach to knowledge-sharing among African regulators.
“Very often, the challenge one regulator is trying to solve has already been encountered, in one form or another, by a colleague elsewhere on the continent,” Dr. Maida said.
He described the theme of the roundtable, “Building Africa’s Network Intelligence Ecosystem for Evidence-Based Regulation,” as both timely and highly relevant to the future of communications regulation in Africa.
According to him, the theme provides an opportunity for regulators to explore how the effective use of data, evidence, and market intelligence can strengthen regulatory decision-making while fostering more structured collaboration and learning across the continent.
Chairing the session, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, highlighted the increasing complexity of Africa’s communications landscape, driven by emerging technologies and digital innovations.
She noted that developments such as broadband expansion, satellite services, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital public infrastructure are reshaping the communications ecosystem, making it imperative for regulators to adopt more innovative and forward-looking regulatory approaches.
Makama further observed that while African regulators now have access to increasing volumes of technical, market, and consumer data, the real challenge lies in converting that information into actionable intelligence capable of delivering improved regulatory outcomes and better consumer protection.
The Heads of Regulators Roundtable forms part of broader efforts by African communications regulators to deepen regional cooperation, strengthen evidence-based policymaking, and build resilient, innovative, and consumer-focused communications ecosystems capable of supporting the continent’s digital transformation agenda.
