Telecommunication Strategic Alliance for Regional Integration (The Case of West Africa)

Abstract

Regional Strategic Alliances (RSA) are one of the most significant recent developments in the telecommunications industry. The global marketplace is demanding an increasingly sophisticated, seamless worldwide communications network along with one inexpensive contract for every service. RSA is a way of meeting these needs in the context of limited available resources. International developments in telecommunications alliances and mergers have captured the attention of businesses and governments. Many traditional telecommunications companies, finding themselves in various stages of corporatization, privatization, and liberalization, are seeking to develop their futures by combining with other companies. The methodological approach of this research mainly adopts beneficiary interviews and desk reviews. Strategic Alliance has been seen as a better approach to best serve a country and its citizens in the presence of limited resources. We recommend that a communication channel in the form of a profit or non-profit organization be formed for an efficient coordination of the alliance once it is set up and liberalization of International Gateways as a necessary step for every Tele-Alliance.