CRTEL-UEMOA: Ensuring lower rates and quality of services

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Extract from the article: Lomé abrite du 24 au 28 juillet 2023, La 14ème réunion du Comité des régulateurs nationaux des télécommunicateurs (CRTEL) de l’UEMOA. Cette rencontre a pour objectif de réfléchir sur la cherté des tarifs sur les communications communautaires, les pro

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From 24 to 28 July 2023, Lomé hosts the 14th meeting of the UEMOA Committee of National Regulators of Telecommunications Providers (CRTEL). The objective of this meeting is to reflect on the high cost of tariffs on Community communications, the problems of coverage and quality of services, and the modernization of the sector’s regulatory methods. The work was opened by Michel Yaovi Galley, Director General of the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Electroniques et des Postes (ARCEP-Togo). It was in the presence of Aminata Lo Paye, resident representative of the WAEMU commission in Togo.

The 8 WAEMU countries want to cap the price of calls and no longer impose exorbitant roaming charges. Addressing rates and quality of service are major concerns that have a real impact on people. This is the unwavering proof of the CRTEL’s commitment and determination to contribute to a lasting change, in people’s living conditions.

For 05 days, these experts from the countries of the sub-region will first rule on the issue of tariffs for sub-regional communications. The second item on the agenda is quality of service to users. Apart from these two (2) themes, the meeting proposes to address a third theme, which is very topical and which challenges our traditional modes of operation. This is artificial intelligence.

Promoting effective regulation of the telecommunications sector

In Togo, the issues of tariffs and quality of services are treated with the highest priority. This is the example of axis 3 of the government roadmap which aims to continue the modernization of Togo and strengthen its structures through digital. These objectives cannot be achieved if the rates for services in general, and those offered at the national level, are too high in relation to the purchasing power of our citizens, or if the quality of services offered by operators is not at the rendezvous. Aware of its central role, ARCEP Togo has made tariff and quality of service issues of major interest by implementing modern methods of data-based regulation. « Indeed, thanks to the practice of data regulation, ARCEP Togo has led Togolese operators to provide consumers with the fair and necessary information to compare offers in order to make an informed choice. Thanks to data-based regulation, each Togolese operator knows where its offers and tariffs are compared to competitors and not to other operators within the WAEMU. This had the effect of leading operators to make substantial tariff changes in the interest of the entire ecosystem. Indeed, over the past two years, mobile rates have dropped by 63% for the incumbent and 71% for its competitor, and previously expensive fixed data rates are now in the regional average », stressed Michel Yaovi Galley, Director General of ARCEP Togo.

With regard to quality of service, ARCEP Togo has made the necessary investments to set up a modern quality of service monitoring centre. « We have also acquired the latest generation of drive-test measuring equipment. This now allows us to conduct daily quality-of-service checks, to conduct major national quality-of-service measurement campaigns twice a year », said the CEO of ARCEP Togo.

The 14th annual meeting of the CRTEL is, for the UEMOA commission, the occasion to recall the existence of the Regional Program of Development of the Digital Economy as the digital transition approach in which our States are engaged. The objective of this programme is to contribute to increasing the use of digital services in economic and social activities in the WAEMU area. It deals with four main areas: strengthening the governance of the digital economy sector, improving users' access to digital services, increasing the supply of digital services, the promotion of innovation and the development of research.

William O.