IIC Africa Chapter roundtable – One Digital Africa, 55 Regulatory Systems: Can Africa regulate for a single digital market?
Chapter Meetings
Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026
Time: arrival from 09:30 for registration, meeting 10:00 – 12:00pm (SAST)
Venue: Werksmans Attorneys, South Africa
The IIC are pleased to be hosting a roundtable meeting in South Africa, kindly supported by Werksmans Attorneys.
Africa’s digital economy operates across borders, but its regulation remains largely national. Telecommunications operators, satellite services providers, cloud businesses, streaming services and digital platforms operating across the continent face different rules on licensing, spectrum, data protection, cybersecurity, online content, consumer protection, taxation and local ownership. Fragmented regulation raises the cost of cross-border expansion, delays investment and limits the ability of African businesses to grow across the continent.
Creating a single African digital market may not require identical laws in every country. Greater interoperability, mutual recognition, common regulatory principles and improved cooperation between national regulators could deliver meaningful integration while respecting national policy choices.
This round table will explore what a more integrated African digital regulatory framework should look like. The discussion will focus on where alignment matters most, where national differences should remain, and how governments, regulators, regional bodies and industry can remove unnecessary barriers to cross-border digital services
Places are limited, if you would like to attend please register your interest by emailing e.brooks@iicom.org
Please note this meeting will be held under the Chatham House Rule.
Registration Fees for delegates
Wednesday 28 October 2026
IIC Africa Chapter Roundtable
IIC Members – Free
Non-Members – £25 GBP (excluding VAT *)
*VAT will be applicable for UK registrations only
If you feel the delegate fee may be a barrier to attending this event, please contact us at enquiries@iicom.org
Liza Zouabi is a competition and regulatory economist with a career spanning academia, government, legal practice and industry. Liza is currently serving as the Executive for Competition and Regulatory Economics at Telkom South Africa.
Over the past 30 plus years Liza has been a thought leader in development and competition economics which has served her well in addressing developmental issues in the electronic communications space including merger analysis, interconnection and other topics such as infrastructure efficiency, 5G strategy and equitable access to electronic communications services.
Liza completed her undergraduate training at the University of the Witwatersrand and obtained her master’s degree in economics at the University of South. Liza also holds post graduate qualifications in Education and Competition Law from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Lynn Robinson became Director General of the International Institute of Communications (IIC), in March 2020.
Lynn is an experienced senior director and trustee / non exec-director, having held key senior leadership positions in the technology, built environment, regulation, accreditation and dental industries. She has extensive experience of professional membership bodies working within the full spectrum including, Regulatory bodies, Industry associations and Chambers of Commerce. Lynn is a well-known and established ambassador in these areas having led on many strategic programmes to aid engagement, growth, retention, change management, stakeholder and political engagement.
Tebogo Sibidla is a Director in our Commercial Practice and a regulatory lawyer with a pan-African focus on digital, technology, and sector specific regulatory frameworks.
With over two decades of experience, she advises local and multinational clients on navigating complex regulatory environments, particularly in sectors shaped by rapid technological and digital transformation. She advises clients across a range of regulated sectors, including media, broadcasting, electronic communications, digital platforms, e-commerce, iGaming, online betting, esports, digital entertainment, and the technology and electronics sector. Her expertise includes regulatory licensing, compliance strategy, and risk management, as well as advising on advertising and marketing, consumer protection, data protection and privacy, and administrative law.
She has significant experience supporting operators, platforms, and investors in navigating complex regulatory frameworks and securing regulatory approvals. She also advises on e-waste and environmental regulatory frameworks affecting technology businesses.
Tebogo is a strong advocate for modern, harmonised and commercially workable regulatory frameworks in Africa, supporting cross-border trade, reducing compliance complexity, and enabling innovation and sustainable digital growth.
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