Abidjan, July 1, 2026 – Following the appointment by decree on April 21, 2026, of the Chair and new members of the Regulatory Council of the Côte d’Ivoire Telecommunications and ICT Regulatory Authority (ARTCI), and after they officially took office on May 11, the Regulatory Council held a meeting with the Union of Telecommunications Companies (UNETEL) on Thursday, July 1, 2026, at ARTCI headquarters in Marcory Anoumabo. As part of an effort to strengthen institutional dialogue with all key stakeholders in the sector, this meeting provided an ideal forum for discussion, sharing of vision, and strategic consultation.
The meeting began with an introduction of the members of the new Regulatory Council and an overview of its missions to the UNETEL delegation led by its president, Mr. Mamadou Bamba, who in turn introduced the members of his delegation.
Subsequently, the Chairman of the ARTCI Regulatory Council, Mr. Roger Félix ADOM, commended the excellent working relationship between UNETEL and the ARTCI General Directorate, which has enabled significant progress to be made on several major issues. He emphasized, however, that ARTCI must carry out its role in a demanding environment, marked by the rapid evolution of new technologies and the growing complexity of markets.
Mr. Roger Félix ADOM also outlined the sector’s many strategic challenges, which include: improving service quality, nationwide coverage, and digital inclusion; rigorous consumer protection; cleaning up the market and ensuring fair competition; stimulating investment and promoting a balanced sectoral tax system; encouraging the development of ultra-high-speed broadband and regulating new digital services, platforms, and emerging models; and actively promoting universal service.
According to him, regulation is a balancing act. Consequently, it must be carried out with objectivity, fairness, and impartiality, in accordance with the law and in the best interests of the nation. To this end, the chairman of the ARTCI Regulatory Council has made three major commitments to operators: listening, to fully understand market realities; rigor and transparency, to build mutual trust based on compliance with regulations; and collaboration, to ensure the success of Côte d’Ivoire’s digital transformation.
The President of UNETEL, Mr. Mamadou BAMBA, congratulated the new Council members on their appointments before sharing the concerns of mobile operators. He noted that Côte d’Ivoire is the country in the subregion that has been most successful in adopting emerging technologies, in a market now characterized by three major players and increasing competition (mobile, data, mobile money, and fixed-line internet).
While highlighting the key role of telecommunications in socioeconomic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Mamadou BAMBA warned of the heavy fiscal, regulatory, and competitive pressures weighing on the sector, which sometimes take a heavy toll on growth and digital inclusion.
Following this presentation, the Director General of ARTCI, Mr. Lakoun OUATTARA, reaffirmed that this meeting reflects ARTCI’s commitment to pursuing the “participatory regulation” sought by the operators. He highlighted the major initiatives already successfully carried out in close collaboration with the operators, particularly regarding 5G, the revision of specifications, and the monitoring of quality of service (QoS).
Following these discussions, the two institutions reiterated their mutual commitment to maintaining an ongoing dialogue in order to address the sector’s major challenges and provide sustainable support for the development of the digital economy in Côte d’Ivoire.
As a sign of this commitment to close collaboration, the Chairman of the Regulatory Council expressed his hope that the next meeting would take place in the coming weeks, this time at UNETEL’s offices.
The Executive Management
