Page 14 - SAMENA Trends - July-September 2024

SAMENA COUNCIL ADVOCACY SAMENA TRENDS

SAMENA Council Announces Outcome of ITU IAGDI-CRO Meeting at GSR-24

The SAMENA Telecommunications Council
announced the successful conclusion of the
Industry Advisory Group for Development
Issues and Private Sector Chief Regulatory
Officers’ (IAGDI-CRO) meeting, which took
place during the ITU Global Symposium for
Regulators (GSR-24) in Kampala, Uganda.
The meeting, chaired by SAMENA Council
CEO Bocar BA, brought together industry
leaders, regulators, and key stakeholders
to discuss the pressing challenges and
opportunities in achieving universal
connectivity.

The session navigated through the complex
regulatory and business landscapes
shaping the digital era, emphasizing
the urgent need for collective action to
achieve 100% connectivity. Recognizing
that over 2.6 billion people worldwide
remain unconnected to the internet, the
meeting focused on digital infrastructure Highlighting the need for innovative Funds (USF) to bridge the digital divide.
development, regulation of future financing models, public sector funding, • Satellite Direct-to-Device (D2D) Services:
technologies, and strategies to foster and the reform of Universal Service Addressing regulatory challenges
inclusive, sustainable connectivity.
Bocar BA highlighted the necessity of ensuring
Industry participants underscored the
necessity of intensified collaboration network resilience through robust infrastructure,
between terrestrial and non-terrestrial comprehensive disaster recovery plans, and advanced
service providers and regulators to address
the coverage gap and adapt regulatory technologies such as AI and machine learning. He
frameworks. Key recommendations stressed that proactive risk management and inclusive
included:
• Market Access and Investment: connectivity initiatives are essential, particularly in
Establishing fair market access rural and underserved areas. Ba underscored the need
conditions, ensuring spectral efficiency,
reducing sector-specific fees and taxes, for adaptable and technologically neutral regulatory
and streamlining licensing regimes frameworks to foster innovation and investment,
to enable predictable and sustainable
network investment. calling for public-private partnerships and broadening
• Rural Connectivity and Digital Inclusion: the base for network investment.

14 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2024