The 74th Board of Directors meeting of the Regional African Satellite Communication Organisation, (RASCOM), is holding in Yaounde, Cameroon with stakeholders seeking to harmonize regulations and better digital connectivity with the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Hosted by the General Manager of Cameroon Telecommunications, (CAMTEL), the meeting that has brought together member states and key strategic stakeholders from across Africa opened on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 and is expected to span three days.
Described by organisers as a crucial milestone in shaping the future of satellite communications in Africa, the meeting also aims to revive the organisation that was seen to be undergoing downtime and how to offer more efficient but less expensive telecommunications services.
“The satellite approach to communication offers an opportunity to enable continuous connectivity for all countries, regardless of their geographic location” said Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi, General Manager of CAMTEL.
Africa’s satellite communication sector has encountered significant challenges in recent years, including infrastructure gaps, uneven access, and affordability issues. The meeting is thus a melting pot of ideas, where stakeholders will navigate the complexities of the satellite space, share valuable insights, and forge partnerships to unlock innovative approaches to addressing these issues head-on.
“Despite the challenges RASCOM has faced in the past, the organization has been steadily improving its services and fostering African expertise over the past two years,” said Bini Kouame, Chairman of the Board of Directors of RASCOM.
Harmonization of regulatory frameworks
The meeting agenda is comprehensive, with proposals aimed at enhancing RASCOM’s mission of promoting telecommunications development across Africa.
Discussions at the three-day meeting will also focus on key priorities, including the need to harmonize regulatory frameworks, foster cross-border cooperation, and leverage emerging technologies to bridge the digital divide.
“It is crucial for Africa to know what we have of satellite connectivity and how we are going to move forward. At the last board meeting the board approved a strategic approach for the next five years. Today we highlight and build on that strategic approach. And it focuses more on how Africa can use African satellite to achieve our digital connectivity,” said Timothy Ashong, Acting Director General of RASCOM.
Representatives from Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Mali, Libya, and Ghana were in attendance, underscoring the regional collaboration that is central to RASCOM’s mission.
The 2024 – 2029 strategic plan
RASCOM’s strategic blueprint for 2024-2029 is ambitious. It focuses on reinforcing commitments among signatories, fostering African expertise through capacity building, and managing orbital resources effectively. The organization aims to establish a satellite constellation that enhances communication across Africa and harmonizes space policies.
The goal is for satellite technology to become a unifying force, bridging the digital divide and empowering millions of Africans to reach their full potential.
With a renewed sense of purpose and a collective vision, the organization is poised to lead the continent’s charge towards a more connected, prosperous, and equitable tomorrow.
About RASCOM
The Regional African Satellite Communication Organization is a pan-African Organization of Communication by Satellite, created in 1992, by the willingness of Governments and of African States, and has been put in place in order to bridge the digital divide between the continent and the rest of the world.
To overcome the challenges of the digital divide and the opening up of rural areas in Africa, the member States agreed to establish a satellite telecommunications system as part of an enhanced telecommunications network for Africa, intended to provide expanded telecommunications and broadcasting services to all African countries.
