The effort is expected to bring to an end monopoly policies in the telecom sector that are blamed for the poor and expensive communication services in the region.

At an African ministers of information and communication technologies meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, this week, the ministers agreed to push implementation of the harmonization of ICT policies in order to support economic and telecommunication development in the region.

Both the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) have for a long time failed to secure a critical mass of African countries to support the rollout of ICT projects, including Nepad's US$2 billion broadband infrastructure project.

The ministers are hoping that the harmonization of telecom policy and regulations will help implementation of African regional plans.

"This time, we are moving forward to harmonize the telecom policies and regulation for the development of the telecom sector in our region," Geoffrey Lungwangwa, Zambian minister of communication and transport, said Aug. 12.