Delegates Spotlight ATU’s Key Impact at SADC Assembly of ICT Ministers

Ministers responsible for ICT & Information from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on 28th February 2025 convened in Harare, Zimbabwe, to review and advance the region’s key digital initiatives. At this meeting, the work of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) was appreciated, reflecting the vital role the Union continues to play in shaping the digital future not only of Southern Africa but of the continent as a whole.
The Ministers took note of, and commended ATU for undertaking at the request of SADC, the specialized training on “Key steps in the planning process of a satellite network”.,”. ATU collaborated with the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI), Ecole Supérieure Multinationale des Télécommunications (ESMT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Academy to deliver this programme in October and November 2024.
The programme was further recognized as instrumental for Member States seeking to boost the technical know-how needed to develop national and regional satellite communications infrastructure. Such capacity-building efforts, aimed at implementing Resolution 170 from the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) — a resolution secured under the ATU framework—align closely with SADC’s current drive to establish a SADC-wide satellite network. In highlighting this success, delegates acknowledged the ATU’s overarching influence in guiding Africa’s broader transition towards efficient, reliable, and widespread satellite services.
Participants also noted the series of ongoing programs rooted in ATU’s broader mission to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. Ministers received updates on the ATU Digital Summit 2025, which aims to convene governments, industry representatives, and experts to launch various high-impact ATU initiatives. The Summit is scheduled to be held in September 2025.
They also took note of the Africa Digital Policy Tracker, a platform designed to monitor progress on Africa’s digital economy policies, laws, and regulations, and ensure alignment across borders. Launched in December 2024, the platform was developed by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the ATU. It aims to provide entrepreneurs, policymakers, and stakeholders in the ICT sector with a clear support infrastructure to enhance their contributions to the continent’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Ministers appreciated the Union’s Annual Innovation Challenge for spurring local entrepreneurship and solutions, while also stressing that robust Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), smooth IPv6 adoption, and strong internet resilience are vital to ensuring efficient, cost-effective connectivity across the region.
Reviewing outcomes from the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) and planning for WRC-27, the Ministers noted the importance of the ATU’s guidance in coordinating common African positions. Through advocating for the region’s collective interests in global telecommunications, the ATU helps Member States secure vital resources—such as radiofrequency spectrum and satellite orbital slots—to maintain and expand services.
At the meeting, SADC’s endorsement of new broadband targets for 2030 and the adoption of a harmonized cybersecurity framework align with the ATU’s overarching drive for cohesive, future-focused initiatives. The development of a SADC Shared Satellite System framework also stresses the deepening commitment to integrate advanced satellite solutions across both remote and urban areas.
Further measures to strengthen IXPs, roll out a Model National Emergency Telecommunications Plan (NETP), and establish a Regional Digital Transformation Centre were also discussed. Each of these activities resonates strongly with the ATU’s work at the continental level—particularly in promoting readiness for emergency scenarios, enabling the free flow of regional data, and scaling up digitization.
The Ministers likewise examined how relationships with international bodies, including both the ITU and ATU, could be further optimized through strategic leadership. They acknowledged that unified advocacy for African priorities—be it in the ITU Management level, ITU Council, the Radio Regulations Board (RRB), or at the ATU’s own leadership level—serves to amplify the region’s influence in key decision-making forums.
Echoing a collective call for more unified efforts, the Harare meeting reaffirmed the importance of interconnected regional networks. In these pursuits, the ATU’s sustained involvement remains key to Africa’s ambition to cultivate inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking digital ecosystems.