Mr. Aliyu Aboki, the Executive Secretary of the West African Telecommunications Regulators’ Assembly (WATRA), emphasized that Fintech, E-commerce, and Digital Marketing significantly drove an 80% growth rate in the telecoms business throughout West Africa in 2024.
This growth was primarily propelled by the payment services provided by Fintech companies, which are closely linked to e-commerce and digital marketing. During a recent virtual media interactive session where he presented WATRA’s agenda centred around “Driving Digital Transformation Prosperity Through Collaborative Regulations: The WATRA Agenda,” Aboki revealed that the growth rate had climbed from 21% in 2019 to 60% in 2023, ultimately reaching 80% in 2024.
This surge was largely the result of increased telecoms investments and infrastructural development across the region. Aboki highlighted that this growth had a positive impact on the digital economy in West Africa, contributing $30 billion annually to the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He clarified WATRA’s role as an association of regulators working to enhance telecoms service delivery in West Africa through collaborative efforts.
WATRA supports and promotes regulatory harmonization, facilitates infrastructure development, and encourages progress among regulatory bodies in various West African countries to expedite development in the region. Discussing WATRA’s plans and focus areas, Aboki explained that the organization aims to expand its services and enhance collaboration to extend connectivity to rural and underdeveloped areas in West Africa.
By partnering with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to leverage technology for advancement, promoting cybersecurity and data protection, and encouraging the growth of telecoms businesses across West African countries, WATRA strives to ensure equitable development and connectivity across the region. In response to questions regarding the disparities in telecoms infrastructure among ECOWAS states, Aboki affirmed WATRA’s commitment to facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building among countries to attract investments and promote infrastructure sharing.
He emphasized the importance of advocating for best practices in spectrum pricing to ensure fair distribution and accessibility across regions, ultimately aiming to reduce costs and enhance connectivity in West Africa. Aboki also addressed concerns about high roaming charges and advocated for a uniform tariff rate for roaming charges in West Africa, emphasizing the need for bilateral agreements between countries to achieve this goal.
Additionally, he highlighted WATRA’s efforts to establish Internet Exchange Points in West Africa to improve regional connectivity, reduce data costs, and ensure that more data remains within the region rather than being routed through international hubs.
