A delegation from the Regulatory Authority for Posts and Telecommunications (ARPT) of Guinea conducted a working visit to Lomé to draw inspiration from the innovative practices of ARCEP Togo in the regulation of the communications sector.
The regulatory authorities for electronic communications in Togo and Guinea joined forces in a common mission focused on the protection and defense of consumers’ rights and interests in digital services. During this immersive experience in Togo’s digital landscape, the discussions focused on key topics, including transparency and comparability of offers, mechanisms for compensating subscribers of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), quality of service monitoring, and customer satisfaction.
On this occasion, ARCEP emphasized the importance of establishing a partnership framework with consumer associations to strengthen their capacities through specific training, information, and awareness campaigns in the electronic communications sector. According to the Director of ARCEP Togo, cooperation between regulators is essential to ensure the respect of consumer rights.
The working sessions also allowed the Guinean delegation to meet three consumer promotion and defense associations in Togo, namely the Togolese Association of Consumers (ATC), the League of Consumers of Togo (LCT), and the Martin Luther King Movement (MMLK). These meetings facilitated a deep understanding of local issues and specific challenges faced by Togolese consumers on a daily basis.
In a context where electronic communications play an increasingly central role in the socio-economic development of Africa, inter-state collaboration to protect consumer rights is crucial. The cooperation between ARCEP Togo and ARPT Guinea represents a significant step towards more effective regulation and increased consumer protection in the rapidly expanding digital universe.
