Top 10 African countries leading in ICT policy and regulation

Africa’s digital economy is rapidly evolving, and strong ICT policy and regulatory frameworks are playing a vital role in shaping that transformation.

• Africa’s digital economy is undergoing significant transformation driven by policy and regulatory frameworks.
• The Tracker categorizes nations as G1 (limited) to G4 (leader) based on their regulatory environments.
• Ten African nations have achieved high maturity levels, with Burkina Faso and Senegal reaching G3 status.

From data protection laws to broadband access strategies and regulations, several African countries have distinguished themselves through forward-thinking ICT policies.

The ITU’s ICT Regulatory Tracker provides a framework for assessing countries’ regulatory systems in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

As African governments leverage ICT for economic growth, inclusion, and innovation, the Tracker helps measure progress, benchmark reforms, and identify gaps.

Country assessment

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) assesses global regulatory maturity through its G5 framework, ranking 193 countries across four pillars: national collaborative governance, policy design principles, digital development tools, and political agenda for the digital economy.

The framework categorizes countries into four levels of regulatory maturity:

– G1 (Limited): 0-40 points, characterized by monopolistic markets and authoritarian approaches.

– G2 (Intermediate): 40-70 points, marked by partial liberalization and privatization.

– G3 (Advanced): 70-85 points, featuring an environment conducive to innovation and competition.

– G4 (Leader): 85-100 points, distinguished by harmonized regulation that drives digital transformation.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has revealed that ten African countries have reached high levels of regulatory maturity in ICT and digital governance—marking a major step forward in the continent’s digital transformation.

Notably, Burkina Faso and Senegal have advanced to the G3 category, joining a select group of countries with regulatory frameworks that promote investment, innovation, and universal access.

Below is the list of the ten African countries with the most advanced ICT regulatory frameworks.