PURA, ARTP sign MoU to strengthen cross-border telecom & postal regulation

The ceremony was attended by the High Commissioner of Senegal to The Gambia, PURA’s Director General, ARTP’s Director General Mr. Dahiru Cham, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, board members, government officials and the media.

Doctor Njogou L Bah PURA Director General reminded that the gathering that in this rapidly evolving digital era, the challenges facing regulators have become more complex and increasingly transnational.”

“Issues such as cross-border connectivity, roaming services, spectrum coordination, cybersecurity, consumer protection, digital services, e-commerce, and postal sector development require regulators to work together,” he added.

Mr. Dahirou Thiam, Director General, ARTP Senegal said: “This ceremony is more than just a formal signing. It represents a binding commitment by our two leading regulatory institutions to strengthen cooperation, deepen regional integration, and advance the development of communications and postal sectors within our two countries, but also within the wider ECOWAS region.”

“I encourage both institutions to move swiftly from commitment to implementation. The true success of this partnership will be measured not by the signing of the document itself, but by the practical results it delivers in the months and years ahead.”

Dr. Ismaila Ceesay Minister for information media and broadcasting services, addressing the gathering, highlighted the significance of the agreement for national development and regional integration.

“The communication sector has become one of the most important enablers of national development. Communications, broadcasting, internet services, postal services, and emerging digital technologies are now drivers of economic growth, public service delivery, financial inclusion, education, healthcare, and social cohesion,” he said.

“As e-commerce and digital trade continue to expand across the continent, efficient and well regulated postal and logistic services have become essential components of national and regional development. The government fully supports initiatives that modernize and strengthen the regulatory environment for communication and postal services.”

The MoU establishes a PURA-ARTP Regulatory Cooperation Forum to coordinate joint activities, staff exchanges, technical assistance and capacity building. Both regulators said implementation will prioritize postal sector modernization, spectrum coordination, quality of service monitoring and consumer protection.