The Swaziland Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) was in charge of tele-communications regulation in Swaziland.

Today, this task is the mission of the Swaziland Communications Commission. The Commission became operational on the 31st July 2013, effectively taking over all the regulatory powers of the sector from the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) and Swaziland Television Authority (STVA).

The Commission is mainly responsible for:• Licensing all systems and services in the communi-

cations industry, including; telecommunications, • postal, courier and broadcasting.

Managing the country’s frequen-cy spectrum and numbering resources.

• Facilitating the development of e-commerce.• Type approving and accepting communica-tions equipment meant for use in the country.• Protecting consumer rights within the communications environment.• Managing competition within the sector to ensure a level playing ground for all players.

• Regulating retail and wholesale tariffs for communications services.• Managing the universal access fund to facilitate access to communications services by all in Swaziland.• Monitoring the activities of licensees

to enforce compliance with the license terms and conditions as well as the law.

Consult-IT !, for its part, is conducting type-approval activities in the country since 2009. Following the creation of the SCCOM, it adopted a new guideline related to type-approvals in 2016. This guideline introduced new application forms that require much more information to be filled in. Moreover, before the issuing of the certificate, the regulator is now sending drafts for a prior confirmation of information. This provision helps avoid mistakes on the certificates. The new guideline also includes the possibility to obtain provisional type approval for equipment in case of:• Trial, research and demonstra-

tions on a non-commercial basis ;• Test equipment at an authorized testing lab in Swaziland ;This provisional type approval is issued for a period not exceeding 6 months. Equipment imported for personal use shall be submitted to the type approval processes of the Commission. Personal imports of equipment cannot exceed 10 pieces a year. When one of the pieces of equipment does not meet the technical standards, it shall be confiscated and destroyed. Since the advent of the SCCOM, Consult it! has built up strong relations with its services. As a result, our experience in the country helps us obtain the necessary approvals in the shortest delay and best conditions possible. Our technical, operational and financial services will provide you all the necessary support anytime you need assistance.

Staff Writer

Archive : Logo of agencncies SCCOM SWAZILAND andSPTC***********************************************

Following the decision of the council of mi-nisters that took place on February 27th, Gabon has set up a new legislation on

electronic communication, digital economy and the post. It is the achievement of 6 months of work we already talked about in our previous newsletters. For the government of Gabon, the reform of the legal and regulatory framework of the telecom sector will contribute to the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the Post. It will also contribute to their widespread use in every sector of the society. It was very important to update texts because the former ones were close to fifteen years old. In fact, the development of the telecommunications sector at the international level requires reforms in the countries that have not made them yet. Right now in Gabon, the new regulation lays the emphasis on cyber-security, cybercrime and cryptography. The important growth of ICTs brings about many users that are exposed to malicious people.

The development of networks cannot be envisaged without taking the security needs of users into account.The development of regulation is also good news to all stakeholders in the telecommunications sector of the country. In fact, they will take advan-tage of a business environment that is improved and attractive. For what interests most of our partners, this regulation brings no particular change to type-ap-proval of equipment. It remains to be seen, however, whether regulatory agencies or competent ministry will not take initiatives on the basis of this new text. Our teams monitor the development of telecoms in Africa and will be pleased to get you informed. Feel free to contact us for your potential concerns.

Staff Writer

Archive : Gouvernment regulations illustration*************************************************************************************************

Following the initiative of the ARTCI, a trai-ning workshop brought together ex-perts from the “Computer Emergency Res-

ponse Team” (CI-CERT), telecommunications operators and consultants. This workshop addressed the theme: “The advanced processing of security in-cidents” in accordance with international standards. Experts from the American CERT, with the support of the American Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, animated this 5-day workshop. Participants discussed and proposed development and capacity-building ini-tiatives concerning computer emergency response. Mark Zajicek, an expert trainer, revealed that he was impressed by the ability of Ivorian participants to appreciate the issues raised during the workshop. “I hope the information we provided will help you bet-ter address the challenges of cyber-security.” He said. As for the Director-general of the ARTCI, he expressed hope that this training will open new prospects in ap-preciating and conducting the tasks of e-security ex-perts and in informing them about the role of the

national CERT. Moreover, the objective of this mee-ting was to strengthen the trends of cooperation between the ARTCI and the American CERT. Accor-ding to Andrew Havilan, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, this workshop is the first in a series within the framework of the cooperation between both countries. The development of ICTs and the development of digital economy go along with important security issues. These issues concern all the parties because equipment manufacturers, users and service providers have all to face threats from cybercrime. This initiative from the regulator has therefore provided the security response neces-sary to the reliability and viability of the digital market of Côte d’Ivoire. Staff Writer

Archive : Family photo after ARTCI/CERT training*****************************************************************************************

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized 60 containers of tyres destined for the local market. These tyres did not comply with

the requirements of the SON. They therefore repre-sented a real danger for users. Not only were the manufacturing dates suspicious, but also, the tyres were undergoing, as soon as they had arrived, dan-gerous manipulations that could affect their quality. Acoording to the SON Director General Mr Osi-ta Aboloma , the sub-standard tyres which were shipped into the country from China, were post-dated to make them appear road worthy.

“Because we have sensitised the public that while buying tyres, they should look out for the manu-facturing date, these people post-dated their tyres to reflect manufacturing date to be first week of January 2017, whereas, the tyres birthed on Ni-gerian soil first week of February 2017. So, are they saying it took them only four weeks to bring the tyres from China to Nigeria across the sea?“Again, even if these are to be standard tyres, the fact

that up to five of them were being tucked into one, with operators using rods to separate them from one another when they reached Nigeria, the tyres will na-turally become substandard. This is because in the course of separating them from the squeeze, the wires and geometrics of the tyres will be affected,” he said.As a reminder, the goals and objectives of the SON are

1. Preparation of standards relating to pro-ducts, measurements, materials and pro-cesses among others, and their promotion at the national, regional and international levels;

2. Certification of industrial products;3. Assistance in the production of quality goods;4. Improvement of measurement accuracy and cir-

culation of information relating to standards.This organisation is governedby the Standards Organisation of Nigeria ACT, 2015, that now replaces the Enabling Act No. 56 of 1971 which has three amendments: (Act No. 20 of 1978, Act No. 32 of 1984 and Act No. 18 of 1990). According to the regulation, SON Product Registration scheme is mandatory for all SON’s regulated products. It also distinguishes the MANCAP from the SONCAP. MANCAP is a man-datory program to which all locally manufactured products in Nigeria must comply with before the product can be allowed to be distributed to the market. SONCAP is a mandatory off-shore conformity assessment program to which all regulated importer product must comply with. Electronic and electric pieces of equipment are concerned by these procedures. The seizure made by the SON helped arrest two foreign citizens. The Director of the organization promised that other offenders to the standards will be submitted to the full extent of the law. He also confirms the agency’s will to increase awareness and control in order to reduce the number of uncertified equipment on the market. It is a clear message sent to people who import equipment to Nigerian. They have to comply with the requirements in force as far as importation is concerned.

Staff Writer

Suspects arrested by SON***********************************************

The 2017 mobile World Congress took place in Barcelona from February 27th to March 2nd. During the congress, mobile operators,

network technology suppliers, manufacturers of mobile phones and startups coming from 200 coun-tries have measured and assessed the development of mobile telephony in the world. Artificial intelligence and 5G technology were the focus of the congress.

After this meeting organized by the GSMA, we wonder about what Africa can draw as benefits from such an initiative. GSMA’s data reveal that the rate of Africans with a smartphone went up from 25% in 2014 to almost 40% in 2016. As a consequence, Africa has one of the strongest growths in terms of number of smart-phone users. This market of 1.2 billion inhabitants has very few equipment manufacturers. Most African consumers use pieces of equipment coming from abroad. However, this fact does not act as a brake on the development of the digital economy in Africa. The users need innovating services brought by the advent of connected objects through the network of the future (5G). The telecom players Involved in Africa have to take ownership of those issues. Investments

in broadband services continue almost everywhere in the country. It is now time to draw benefits from this situation through innovation. That is why this kind of meetings is always important in the way that they help make people aware of what is at stake. Such initiatives like Transfor Africa, Sahellnnov andthe coming African forum of connected objects are perfect examples of this situation. Africans themselves should strive to turn the digital economy into a reality in order to get the best possible benefits. And except local players, all the others involved in the development of ICTs can bring their contribution to this dynamic in Africa. This is an important project in which all players can find a suitable position to develop his activities. In spite of major efforts, the digital divide is still a reality in the continent. The bridging of the digital divide would be profitable to all telecom stakeholders.

Staff Writer

Archive : Exhibition room from Mobile World Congress*******************************************

Archive : Mobile phones photos*******************************************