The 18th Focal Points Meeting on the Implementation of the ECOWAS Regulation on Roaming was held in Lomé, Togo, from 20th to 21st August 2025.
The meeting brought together National Regulatory Authorities from 12 ECOWAS Member States, alongside representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, WATRA Secretariat, SPIDER Centre, and Salience Consulting. Its objective was to review progress since the last report (September 2024) and identify solutions to accelerate the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Roaming Regulation (C/REG.21/12/17).
WATRA’s Key Contributions:
Implementation Dashboard: Presented the latest update of its regional dashboard tracking roaming implementation. It highlighted that 13 bilateral MoUs have been signed across 8 Member States, with 9 already launched
Clarifying Definitions: Emphasized the need to distinguish between ‘launch’ (public announcement) and ‘go-live’ (commercial availability), with recommendations that tracking focus be on go-live stages.
Capacity Building: Updated participants on its efforts, through the iPRIS programme, including plans to facilitate knowledge-sharing with the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), drawing lessons from the EU’s ‘Roam Like At Home’ model.
Policy Guidance: Supported discussions on tariff flexibility for data services, consumer protection against bill shock, and harmonisation of control testing by NRAs and operators.
Key Outcomes of the Meeting:
- Validation of anti-fraud guidelines for roaming services, with updated provisions on SIM activation timelines.
- Agreement on steps to update the 2025 Roaming Tariff Observatory.
- Consideration of tariff harmonisation, revenue-sharing models, and consumer protection in the upcoming review of the Regulation.
The ECOWAS Roaming Regulation is central to making communication across West Africa affordable, reliable, and inclusive. WATRA’s role in providing data, coordination, and technical guidance ensures that implementation moves from policy to practice, delivering real benefits to citizens.
