Regulatory Roundtable Regulation That Builds: Aligning Policy and Digital Infrastructure Investment Priorities

The regulatory landscape remains one of the most decisive factors shaping Africa’s digital infrastructure growth. Fragmented licensing, unclear rights‑of‑way processes, inconsistent site permitting, and grid‑related approvals continue to slow the rollout of towers, fibre routes, and data centres. These barriers inflate deployment costs, hinder co‑location and open‑access models, and create uncertainty for investors seeking scalable, multi‑sector infrastructure strategies. 

For towercos, fibre operators, hyperscale and edge providers, and energy partners, predictable regulation is essential to enabling shared‑infrastructure buildout, long‑term investment, and cross‑sector coordination. 

Discussion points: 

• Which regulatory models best support cross‑infrastructure growth 

• Which permitting, rights‑of‑way, and licensing bottlenecks most impede deployment speed and project viability 

• How can governments, regulators, and infrastructure players better align on investment priorities