CICODEV Executive Director outlines solutions on behalf of African consumers
On behalf of the African Consumers’ Union (UAC), the Executive Director of CICODEV Africa, Amadou Kanouté has outlined relevant solutions for the effectiveness of the service of universal access of telecommunications. This was on Thursday, at the closing of the 18th seminar of the Francophone Network of Telecommunications Regulation (FRATEL) at the invitation of the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (ARTP) of Senegal. Invited to discuss the theme “Implementation and monitoring of universal access service: a consumer perspective”, the Executive Director of CICODEV provided solutions focused on 5 levels. For greater effectiveness of the universal access service, it will first be necessary to establish an annual sectoral review. Second, a strategy and a partnership framework with local actors, particularly local authorities, must be put in place. Amadou Kanouté continued, a sectoral information system and an observatory of the sector should also be put in place. After that, he recommends seeking synergies between the universal policies in force (electricity, water …). And finally, to promote the appointment of representatives of consumer organizations in the bodies of orientation and monitoring.
In line with the 2021 action plan that was approved at the 2020 FRATEL annual meeting, the seminar was dedicated to the theme “Universal Service and Access: How to finance, implement and monitor it”. The online meeting addressed, on the one hand, the financing and costing of universal service and access and, on the other hand, their implementation and monitoring.
The Director General of the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (ARTP) of Senegal, Abdoulaye Ly, also President of FRATEL for the year 2021 did not fail to welcome the intervention of the representative of the UAC. “I would like to congratulate Mr. Amadou Kanouté for his relevant remarks and his constant support in our various actions for the effectiveness of the universal access service,” said the Director General of ARTP before closing the curtains on the 18th seminar of FRATEL held on 7 and 8 July 2021 online.