Policies and regulations harmonization is seen as a major step toward the full liberalization of the African telecom sector. In 2008, Zambia, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria and Chad were mandated by the African Union to implement a harmonized ICT policy and regulatory framework. However, the countries have made little progress.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said at the opening of the meeting this week that appreciable progress has been made by Africa in telecommunication development, with an increase of more than 350 million mobile-phone users and 86 million Internet users in the past five years.

Nepad officials say they hope that once the implementation of ICT policy harmonization is achieved, it will become easier to get support for broadband projects. The organization's broadband project has failed to get off the ground as many countries fear that signing on to it will mean changing their monopoly regulatory policies.The Nepad project aims to connect all African countries to a communication network that stretches from South Africa to Rwanda.