 | The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for robust and resilient ICT networks to be at the forefront of social and economic development. There is an urgent need to address a range of associated ICT policy and regulatory issues, especially those related to competition policy, which have in some cases existed for decades. In countries in the Africa and Arab States regions, the pandemic has made legislators and regulators concerned about the availability and affordability of ICT services and securing investment for underlying digital infrastructures. It has also raised questions on the role of digital platforms in serving the ICT ecosystem and the most appropriate regulatory approaches to respond to constantly evolving technology.
This publication reviews the major competition policy and regulatory challenges that affect the development of a vibrant digital apps environment enabled by digital platforms. It addresses fundamental questions on how regulatory practices need to change in the context of evolving technologies, and on the rise of digital platforms and their socioeconomic impact on the countries in these regions.
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