WATRA Pushes Unified Digital Regulation to Unlock West Africa’s $200bn Digital Economy Growth

The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) is intensifying efforts to establish a unified digital regulatory framework across the region as West Africa’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, now valued at over $200 billion. The move is aimed at creating a more coordinated system that supports sustainable digital growth while reducing fragmentation across member states.

WATRA made this known following its 4th Working Groups Meeting held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where telecom regulators and technical experts gathered to align policies for the next phase of digital transformation. The meeting focused on building a secure, inclusive, and resilient digital ecosystem that can support innovation and cross-border digital services.

According to the regional body, the West African digital economy—spanning e-commerce, fintech, digital platforms, and connectivity services—is projected to exceed $216 billion, highlighting the speed at which the sector is evolving. WATRA also emphasized that coordinated regulation is now essential to ensure that this growth translates into real economic and social benefits for citizens across the region.

WATRA Executive Secretary, Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, described the initiative as a shift from discussions to actionable regulatory tools. He noted that working groups have already produced technical reports on key areas such as 5G deployment, cybersecurity, submarine cable resilience, consumer protection, and satellite systems, all of which will guide future policy decisions.

The organization also highlighted the uneven but fast-growing digital landscape across the region, with Nigeria leading as the largest digital economy, Ghana emerging as a fintech hub, and Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal strengthening their digital infrastructure ecosystems. WATRA said its upcoming recommendations will feed into its 2026–2030 strategic plan, reinforcing its goal of harmonizing policies and bridging the digital divide across West Africa.

source: nairametrics