Directorate of Telecommunications

List of On-going Programmes

1. Program 1 : Promote the Development of Economic and Technological Infrastructure
2. Program 2: Establish common operational rules for transport and telecommunications infrastructure services in the region
3. Program 3: Special Program on the Establishment of ECOWAS Radio/Television

List of On-going Projects

1. Establishment of the Regional Data base SIGTEL: (sigtel.ecowas.int)

The Computerised Telecommunications Management Information System (SIGTEL) is the primary Internet portal for information on the Telecommunications/ICT sector in the ECOWAS region and it is designed to cater for information needs of ECOWAS development partners and investors as well as Member States. The development of the new Eco-SIGTEL suite is ongoing in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for collection of updated and current telecommunication indicators

2. Implementation of the ECOWAS Wide Area Network (ECOWAN)

The ECOWAS Wide Area Network (ECOWAN) is envisaged to be a public sector e-governance platform through which ECOWAS institutions and Member States can communicate, manage and share common resources online in real time at high bandwidth. Key applications such as ALISA (the regional Customs connectivity application/software), RVAIS (Regional Vehicle Administration Information System) and other regional applications requiring real-time connections between ECOWAS institutions can be deployed on this secure site managed solely for/by the region.

3. The ECOWAS Radio/TV Project

The most dominant platforms for mass communication are radio and television broadcasting, therefore the establishment of an ECOWAS radio/television station is essential towards the attainment of the vision, aims and objectives of the Community. ECOWAS is in the process of concluding a technical partnership with some Partners who have experience in establishing television stations in various languages as this will be a great advantage as the ECOWAS TV will be run in the three (3) ECOWAS languages (English, French and Portuguese).

4. Implementation of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)

In line with the implementation of the technical roadmap adopted by ECOWAS to meet the 17th June 2015 deadline for the transition from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), the report outlining the key actions, decisions and recommendations on how Member States can utilise the additional spectrum available to benefit DTT to ensure Member States meet the new digital transition deadline of June 2017 has been disseminated to the relevant national entities involved in the implementation of DTT. The selection process for the test laboratories is also in progress.