A former Acting Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and former EVC/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Dr. Bashir Gwandu, has urged African countries to work together to secure 600 megahertz (MHz) band mobile spectrum allocation.
The telecom expert gave the charge in his opening remarks on the 600MHz spectrum discussions at the just concluded 9th Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference 2024, organised by Forum Global on the third theme: “From WRC-23 to WRC-27- Emerging Landscapes & Technologies and the Path Ahead”, which held on 6-7 November in Nairobi, Kenya
While making a presentation during the session titled “The Shape of Post-WRC spectrum Ecosystems”, Gwandu, who previously held chairmanship positions at the both the ITU and Commonwealth including the ITU Radiocommunications Advisory Group (the RAG), The Joint Task Group, and Commonwealth ITU Group (CIG), called for cooperation among African countries at the forthcoming World Radiocommunications Conference 2027 (WRC-27) to enter Footnote 5.307A, which are radio regulations used to make spectrum allocation for a country or some countries.
The industry expert, who played a key role in founding the ATU (African Telecommunications Union) WRC coordination meetings, had expressed disappointment that the continent’s focus on collaborative efforts was waning.
At the core of the discussions was the 600MHz (3GGP n71) band, a key frequency range that many countries worldwide are increasingly allocating for IMT to support 4G and 5G networks. While several nations in Regions 2 and 3, as well as some in ITU Region 1, have designated this band for mobile, some African countries are not yet ready to make the switch to co-primary allocation.
Eleven African countries had applied at the WRC-23 for primary mobile allocation of spectrum and IMT identification in the 614-694MHz band, but only Egypt was granted while countries like Rwanda, Guinea, Benin Republic, and Cameroon, blocked requests from 10 other African nations with similar aspirations.
The 10 countries that were blocked include Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya, Chad, Gambia, Sudan, Namibia, Somalia, and Tanzania. Dr Gwandu posited that fighting for status quo to remain or ‘No Change’ in this case is akin to refusing an available front seat and fighting for a back seat.
Gwandu noted: “Therefore, colleagues, something clearly went wrong at WRC23, and we as Africans need to address it. We must work together, have positive dialogue on challenges, and optimize the use of opportunities. Reasonable countries have always found solutions to accommodate the needs of their neighbours instead of blocking them.”
Similarly, he advised the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) to remain effective by following its rules.
The industry chieftain said the 600MHz band issue remained clear as the world is moving towards IMT in this band, with some countries ready now and others later, adding that “eventually, most of us will adopt it. Many region 2 and Region 3 countries have taken primary allocation to mobile in the band, and even in region 1, a number of countries have already changed the use status of this band to include either primary or secondary mobile.”
Gwandu urged those not ready not to obstruct others that are prepared to move forward. Countries develop at different rates, and the ITU Resolution 26 that requires consent before amending footnotes is intended to promote harmonization, not to delay a clear direction, or block progress, he said, adding that there is need to provide regulatory certainty to different industries.
According to him, if many countries in other regions and Africa have not taken the steps to upgrade the mobile service in the band, “then yes, we can try to convince colleagues in Africa to hold, but, this is not the case. The direction is now clear – 600MHz band will be allocated on a primary basis to mobile. It is almost black and white.
“When we meet as a family, we must be honest with ourselves. Some of us who helped to initiate the ATU WRC coordination meetings are disheartened by how we, as Africans, continue to fight each other in order to win the occupancy of the back seat, whilst neglecting each other’s interests.
“When making decisions, we must consider the unique circumstances of each country, such as geographical size, population and data demand, the capital expenditure required for coverage, the dispersed nature of our rural settlements, the 50 per cent urban to rural connectivity-divide in Africa and the energy costs to power the high throughput systems in rural areas,” he added.
The telecom industry expert said these factors differed for each country, and thus the frequency allocation solution for a smaller country like Rwanda or Benin cannot be the same for larger nations like Nigeria or Namibia.
