- A facility for harmonizing national
strategies at the sub-regional levels by Regional Economic Communities for consistency in
regional economic integration goals in the area of ICTs
- Allows for harmonization of national
regulatory frameworks as countries deregulate and liberalize their telecommunication
markets.
- Provides a framework for the development of
information and communication infrastructure that can facilitate regional economic
integrations goals of the African continent.
- Provides an impetus for strengthening
capacity at the sub-regional level in ICT for development and building a critical mass to
faciliate regional integration through ICTs.
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Policy and Regulatory
Integration The creation of regional strategies would enable Africa to build economy of
scale for developing its infrastructure and content and increase Africa's ability to
negotiate globally.
Regulatory integration at
the regional level would create and strengthen the community/associations of regulators to
facilitate cross-boarder interaction, market enlargement and harmonization policies at the
sub-regional and regional levels.
Strengthen regional
institutions, to participate effectively in global ICT, as well as of decision-making
bodies such as ICANN, WTO, WIPO, ISOC etc.
Infrastructure Development
This will include the setting up of sub-regional backbones, exchange and interconnection
points, with human resource development requirements.
Mechanisms for sharing
bandwidth within the sub-regions should be looked into as part of the facilitation of
sub-regional and regional interconnectivity.
Economic Policies
Establishing common tariffs for ICT products and services across borders as a key
component of the harmonization process at sub-regional and regional levels.
Potential for cost sharing
in executing joint projects at sub-regional and regional levels, particularly the
financing and strengthening of sub regional and regional backbones to enhance connectivity
in the region.
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