Constitution

Our Mandate

Objectives of WATRA

The Objectives of WATRA are derived from Article 3 of the Constitution of  the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly

• To encourage the establishment of modern legal and regulatory structures for telecommunications service delivery in all States in the sub-region; and to encourage the separation of the roles of policy-maker, regulators, licensed operators/service providers and the establishment of distinct, independent, and adequately empowered National Telecommunications Regulatory agencies in countries in the sub-region.
• To seek development and harmonization of regulations for telecommunications service delivery and pricing in countries in the sub-region.
• To promote the establishment and operation of efficient, adequate and cost-effective telecommunications networks and services in the West African sub-region which meets the diverse needs of customers while being economically sustainable.
• To further encourage liberalization projects and competition initiatives in networks development and to enhance efficiency in the telecommunications service delivery in the sub-region.
• To contribute to the development of policies aimed to enhance universal access and telecommunication penetration in rural and underserved areas in the sub-region.
• To facilitate the exchange of ideas, views and experiences among members on all aspects of regulations of the telecommunications sector.
• To conceptualize and formulate, for eventual recommendation to present to policy-makers in the sub-region, an information and communication technology master plan which will set policy objectives and milestones for the modernization of telecommunications  infrastructures and service delivery in the sub-region.
• To contribute through the progressive integration of regulatory mechanisms, towards sub-regional market integration in the telecommunication  sector leading eventually to the market integration of the entire African continent.
• To work towards the attainment of a uniform telecommunications service standard in the sub-region, and the adoption of uniform technical and quality standards for telecommunication applications and equipment in the sub-region.
• To contribute to human resource and capacity building efforts aimed at redressing the shortages of indigenous skills, competencies and capabilities in the emerging sector of information technologies and communications in the sub-region.
• To collaborate and co-operate with the Economic Community of West African states (ECOWAS) towards the attainment of its treaty objectives of sub-regional and social integration, as envisaged in the ECOWAS Treaty of 1975.
• To collaborate and co-operate with the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) towards the attainment of its stated mission of promoting rapid development of information and communications sector in Africa to achieve universal access to basic telecommunications and full inter-country connectivity in de Africa; and the fulfilment of its objectives, specially the objectives of promoting the development and adoption of appropriate African Telecommunications policy and regulatory frameworks.
• To collaborate and co-operate with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) towards the attainment of its agenda for global telecommunications development, especially with respect to its initiatives for the development of regional and sub-regional structures for more effective telecommunications service delivery.
• To collaborate and co-operate with any other regional and international body institution whose objectives or activities may facilitate or enhance the attainment of WATRA aims and objectives.