The Association of Regulators of Information and Communications for Eastern and Southern Africa (ARICEA) is a consultative and collaborative forum. It brings together regulators and associated actors in the information and communications technology services (ICT) sector in the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) region.

GENESIS
The overarching aim of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern (COMESA)- comprising Burundi, the Union of Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, is sustainable growth and development through trade and regional integration. Efficient information and communication technology (ICT) services are essential for the achievement of this aim. Therefore, ICT infrastructure development, through policy and regulatory harmonization, is among the important programmes of COMESA. While national ICT regulators play a crucial role in promoting the development and application of ICT services in individual Member States. There is a need for a regional regulator to harmonize the implementation of policies at regional level. To meet this need in part, the regulators, with the support of their Governments through COMESA, formed ARICEA in January 2003.