Beyond Coverage: How Smart Regulation Drive Africa’s Digital Transformation

Helena Fernandes outlines INCM’s framework for trusted digital governance, measurable obligations, and inclusive infrastructure investment in Mozambique.

1. How would you assess Mozambique’s current digital transformation journey?

Helena Fernandes: Mozambique is at a decisive stage in its digital transformation journey. We have made important progress in expanding telecommunications infrastructure, increasing mobile broadband coverage, digitalising public services and encouraging wider adoption of digital solutions by citizens, businesses and public institutions.

At the same time, we are clear-eyed about the remaining challenges. The next phase is not only about connecting more places; it is about ensuring meaningful connectivity. That means affordability, resilient infrastructure, digital skills, relevant local content, cybersecurity, and stronger inclusion of rural communities, women, young people and persons with disabilities.

The Government’s vision is to ensure that digital transformation becomes a practical engine of economic growth, social inclusion and sustainable development, without leaving any citizen or community behind.

2. What are the regulator’s key priorities for expanding connectivity and digital inclusion?

HF: Our foremost priority is universal, affordable, resilient and high-quality connectivity, but we increasingly define success by meaningful use, not only by coverage statistics.

To achieve this objective, the Regulator is focused on:

• accelerating the nationwide rollout of broadband networks, especially in rural and underserved areas;
• using the Universal Access Fund more strategically to unlock investment where the market alone is not commercially viable;
• promoting passive and active infrastructure sharing, as well as national roaming where appropriate, to reduce duplication and expand service reach;
• strengthening competition and consumer protection so that citizens benefit from better prices, quality and transparency;
• supporting digital literacy and skills so that connectivity translates into real participation in the digital economy;
• prioritising inclusion for women, young people, persons with disabilities, schools, health facilities and rural communities.

Connectivity should be treated as essential enabling infrastructure, supporting education, healthcare, public services, entrepreneurship and full participation in modern economic life.

3. How can regulatory frameworks encourage greater investment in telecommunications infrastructure?

HF: A modern regulatory framework must give investors predictability, transparency and legal certainty, while also ensuring that investment delivers measurable public value.

In Mozambique, we are working to create an environment that reduces deployment risk and supports long-term infrastructure investment through:

• clear and forward-looking spectrum management policies;
• transparent licensing and authorisation processes;
• stronger rules and incentives for passive and active infrastructure sharing;
• simplified administrative procedures, including better coordination on rights of way, site access and local approvals;
• targeted incentives, coverage obligations and subsidy mechanisms for economically less attractive areas.

The purpose of regulation is not to replace the market, but to organise it so that competition, investment and public-interest obligations work together for the benefit of citizens.

4. What role does spectrum policy play in supporting broadband expansion and future technologies?

HF: Radio-frequency spectrum is a strategic national resource and one of the most important foundations of the digital economy.

Effective spectrum policy expands coverage, increases network capacity, improves quality of service and prepares the country for 5G, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence-enabled applications and future digital services.

Mozambique’s approach is to allocate spectrum in a transparent, efficient and technology-neutral manner, while ensuring that this scarce resource is used to promote innovation, competition, coverage and quality.

The Regulator has commenced the implementation of fifth-generation mobile technology, recognising 5G as a platform for digital transformation, industrial modernisation and the development of a knowledge-based economy.

The rollout of 5G is being supported through the administrative assignment of radio-frequency spectrum in the following bands:

• 700 MHz, which is particularly important for wider coverage and rural reach;
• 2.6 GHz, which supports additional broadband capacity; and
• 3.5 GHz, which is a key capacity band for 5G services.

These assignments are linked to investment, coverage and quality-of-service obligations designed to support both 4G expansion and 5G deployment, with priority given to:

• provincial capitals;
• rural and underserved areas;
• development corridors;
• special economic zones;
• tourism areas;
• educational institutions;
• healthcare facilities;
• public institutions; and
• other strategic areas of national importance.

The objective is not only faster networks. It is to create the conditions for smart cities, precision agriculture, telemedicine, distance learning, Industry 4.0, IoT applications and new forms of digital public service delivery.

5. How is the regulator addressing the connectivity needs of rural and underserved communities?

HF: Ensuring that rural communities have the same digital opportunities as urban populations is one of the central tests of inclusive digital transformation.

Our approach combines public funding, private-sector implementation, regulatory obligations and international partnerships. This is important because in many rural areas the economics of network deployment remain difficult and private investment alone is often not sufficient.

Firstly, we are supporting network expansion through the Universal Access Fund and rural connectivity programmes that encourage appropriate, cost-effective technologies for sparsely populated localities.

In parallel, we are promoting infrastructure-sharing models, public-private partnerships and cooperation with development partners to mobilise resources and reduce the cost of deployment.

The Digital Television for Local Communities Project is another practical inclusion initiative. It has established ten community digital centres, each with capacity for up to 60 people and equipped with photovoltaic power systems, Smart TVs and satellite television reception equipment.

The purpose of these centres is to give communities access to information, educational and audiovisual content, while also supporting local development and community cohesion.

A further structural measure is the National Telecommunications Roaming Regulation, which is designed to maximise the use of existing infrastructure and accelerate universal access to electronic communications services.

Under this framework, subscribers can access another operator’s network when their own provider has no coverage in the area where they are located.

This measure is expected to:

• reduce coverage gaps;
• improve service continuity and quality for citizens;
• optimise operators’ infrastructure investments;
• promote more efficient use of national telecommunications infrastructure; and
• strengthen digital inclusion across the country.

Connectivity expansion must also be accompanied by resilience. Networks must remain available during natural disasters, extreme weather events, power outages and other emergencies.

In this regard, our priorities include:

• strengthening redundancy across national networks;
• promoting secure and resilient telecommunications infrastructure;
• enhancing emergency communications systems; and
• reinforcing preparedness, response and recovery capabilities during times of crisis.

Ultimately, rural connectivity will only be meaningful when communities can use digital services reliably, affordably and safely.

6. What are the most important regulatory considerations surrounding AI, cybersecurity, and data governance?

HF: Artificial intelligence offers a significant opportunity to improve public services, strengthen productivity and accelerate innovation, but it must be developed within a trusted and responsible digital environment.

For the Regulator, the central issue is trust. Citizens must know that digital services are secure, that their data is protected, and that new technologies are used transparently and responsibly.

Our key priorities are to:

• strengthen national cybersecurity capabilities and incident-response mechanisms;
• promote responsible data governance and secure data flows;
• safeguard users’ privacy and consumer rights;
• encourage ethical, transparent and accountable development and deployment of artificial intelligence; and
• reinforce regional and international cooperation in addressing cyber threats.

The challenge is to strike the right balance between innovation and protection. Connectivity brings people online; trust keeps them online.

“Connectivity brings people online; trust keeps them online.”

Helena Fernandes, INCM Board Chair

7. How can regional regulatory cooperation accelerate Africa’s digital economy objectives?

HF: Africa’s digital economy cannot be built country by country. It requires coordinated and collaborative regulatory responses across borders.

Regulatory harmonisation facilitates cross-border investment, lowers implementation costs, creates economies of scale and improves interoperability of digital services.

Regional and international cooperation is particularly important for regional roaming, spectrum coordination, cybersecurity, data protection, digital trade, cross-border payments and resilient digital infrastructure.

Mozambique remains committed to this agenda, recognising that digital integration is essential for the African Continental Free Trade Area, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the emergence of a more connected and competitive African digital market.

8. Looking ahead, what are the regulator’s priorities for supporting Mozambique’s digital future over the next five years?

HF: Over the next five years, our priorities will focus on consolidating an inclusive, innovative, competitive and resilient digital ecosystem.

Our key strategic objectives include:

• expanding broadband coverage and improving quality of service, especially in underserved areas;
• preparing the country for the phased adoption of next-generation technologies, including 5G, IoT and responsible AI;
• strengthening digital trust through cybersecurity, data protection and consumer protection;
• deepening digital inclusion for women, young people, persons with disabilities and rural communities;
• supporting innovation, technological entrepreneurship, local content and digital skills development; and
• mobilising partnerships and investment through regional and international cooperation.

Our ambition is simple but demanding: digital transformation must deliver visible benefits for Mozambicans, including better services, new economic opportunities, stronger inclusion and a more competitive and sustainable economy.

The next phase of digital governance should be judged not only by the policies we approve or the networks we deploy, but by whether citizens can access and use digital services safely, affordably and meaningfully, regardless their location or socio-economic conditions.