By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African
Telecommunications Union (ATU), the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT
Standardization (GIST) and the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO)
have held discussions on strengthening the development, alignment and
implementation of ICT standards across Africa.
The engagement brought
together senior officials from the three organisations to explore ways of
establishing a more coordinated continental approach to ICT standardisation.
ATU Secretary General John
Omo and Secretary General-Elect Eng. Kezias Kazuba Mwale, accompanied by
Communications and Resources Mobilization Coordinator Dr Emma Otieno, met with
the GIST team led by Senior Standards Expert Matano Ndaro and an ARSO delegation
represented by Reuben Gisore.
The discussions focused on
aligning the respective roles of the institutions across the ICT standards
lifecycle, from standards development to their harmonised adoption and
implementation by African countries.
The stakeholders identified
greater coordination as important to reducing fragmentation and ensuring that
standards developed at continental and international levels can be effectively
translated into national frameworks.
Strengthening ICT
standardisation is also expected to support interoperability, innovation and
the development of digital services across African markets, while ensuring that
technological development remains responsive to the needs of users and communities.
The engagement forms part of
broader efforts to deepen institutional collaboration around standards and
contribute to a more harmonised digital ecosystem across the continent.
ATU, GIST and ARSO are
expected to continue exploring practical mechanisms for cooperation as Africa
advances its digital transformation and seeks greater alignment of ICT
standards across countries.
