By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Communications
Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has hosted the first Legal and Policy
Committee (LPC) meeting of the Communications Regulators’ Association of
Southern Africa (CRASA), bringing together representatives of member states to
discuss regulatory priorities shaping the region’s digital future.
The three-day meeting, being
held from August 10 to 12, 2026, is focused on strengthening regional
regulatory cooperation and promoting greater alignment in approaches to shared
information and communications technology (ICT) and digital policy challenges
across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Key issues on the agenda
include artificial intelligence governance, data governance and data
protection, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and broader regional
regulatory cooperation.
The discussions are expected
to provide member states with an opportunity to exchange knowledge, examine
emerging regulatory challenges and explore approaches that can support more
coordinated responses to the rapid development of digital technologies.
CRASA plays a key role in
facilitating cooperation among ICT regulators across the SADC region, with its
work aimed at supporting regulatory harmonisation and addressing cross-border
challenges affecting the digital and communications sectors.
The meeting comes as
governments and regulators across Africa increasingly confront the need to
establish appropriate frameworks for emerging technologies, particularly AI,
while strengthening safeguards around data and digital services.
ICASA said the meeting is
expected to produce constructive engagements, knowledge-sharing and outcomes
that contribute to a more coordinated and responsive regulatory environment
across the region.
The discussions are also
expected to strengthen cooperation among SADC member states as they work
towards addressing common digital policy and regulatory challenges and
supporting the region’s broader digital transformation agenda.
