• Orange CEO urges fairer digital rules amid Africa’s tech shift
• Operators call for updated policies to match data-driven economy
• GSMA, partners launch AI, 4G phone initiatives to boost inclusion

Yasser Shaker, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, called for fairer digital-sector regulation across Africa during his opening keynote at the Mobile World Congress in Kigali on Tuesday. The executive argued that the continent's telecoms sector is undergoing a profound transformation marked by the rapid growth of new players, including fintech companies, Over The Top (OTT) platforms, and satellite operators. He asserted these shifts require a review of regulatory frameworks to ensure a level playing field.

“We are no longer just competing among operators,” Shaker said, stressing the need to ensure “all players are operating on the same field” because “clarity is essential for investment.” He also highlighted the importance of developing local expertise, referencing Orange’s investments in training centers and startup incubators, which have already trained 1.3 million young people through the Orange Digital Centers.

Rethinking Regulation

Other major African operators echoed this sentiment at the event. Ralph Mupita, CEO of MTN Group, argued that current rules are largely relics of the voice era and struggle to meet the demands of a data-driven digital economy. He called for public policies to be reimagined from a blank slate, specifically challenging current taxation and spectrum pricing levels.

Meanwhile, Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, proposed addressing the continent’s challenges across three distinct phases of development: connected metropolitan areas, intermediate cities in transition, and underserved rural zones. He emphasized the necessity of targeted investments and technical innovations adapted to each local reality.

These interventions aligned with the keynote's overall theme, which explored the conditions required to shape an inclusive digital future for Africa. According to organizers, connectivity is now central to the continent's socioeconomic growth. The session highlighted the role of new technologies such as AI, fintech, 5G, and energy innovations, and the policy levers needed to accelerate their diffusion in both urban and rural areas. Discussions underscored the need for investment in infrastructure, training, and regulatory flexibility to support this momentum.

Joint Initiatives and AI Focus

Several significant announcements were made during the event. The GSMA unveiled a joint initiative with six of the continent's major operators, including Orange, to promote a common standard for manufacturing affordable, entry-level 4G smartphones. The association views reducing the cost of devices as a crucial lever for broadening mobile internet adoption in sub-Saharan Africa.

The GSMA also announced the launch of a collaborative program focused on developing Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models (LLMs) adapted to the continent. It noted that Orange has been working over the past year to integrate African languages into major AI models developed by OpenAI and Meta. This joint initiative, which now includes MTN, Vodacom, and several African tech players, aims to strengthen the continent's digital sovereignty by ensuring better representation of local languages, data, and realities in evolving AI systems.

With unique mobile subscribers in Africa expected to exceed 700 million by 2030, according to the GSMA, the regulatory environment is of increasing importance for telecom operators and other digital stakeholders. While calls for more equitable regulation are mounting, particularly from incumbent operators, debate continues over how to best structure a competitive environment adapted to the sector’s rapid evolution. Regulators' decisions on investment support, broadened service access, and emerging business models will have a lasting impact on Africa's path toward digital inclusion.

Louis-Nino Kansoun