West African Regulators Meet in Dakar to Strengthen Cross-Border Digital Networks
By harmonizing the use of frequencies across borders, participating countries aim to establish a more coherent and efficient spectrum management framework, improve network stability, and provide more reliable connectivity for communities in border regions, where mobile terminals often capture networks from neighboring countries unintentionally.
The Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes du Sénégal (ARTP) hosted a regional meeting in Dakar from December 9 to 11, 2025, focused on coordinating radio-electric frequencies in border areas. Regulators from The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Mauritania, along with electronic communications operators from these countries, participated in the discussions.
Under the theme “Establish a collaborative dynamic for sustainable co-habitation of our networks in border areas,” the meeting aimed to enhance cooperation among neighboring countries to improve the quality and reliability of digital services at border regions. A key focus was addressing interference and unintentional roaming, as the same frequency bands are often used on both sides of borders.
The initiative aligns with Senegal’s Plan2050, which seeks to ensure equitable digital access for all citizens. During the opening ceremony, the Director-General of ARTP emphasized the importance of supporting the vision of President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE, who stresses that equitable access to digital technologies is an essential tool for sovereignty, development, and social justice.
By harmonizing the use of frequencies across borders, participating countries aim to establish a more coherent and efficient spectrum management framework, improve network stability, and provide more reliable connectivity for communities in border regions, where mobile terminals often capture networks from neighboring countries unintentionally.
