Gwandu Calls for African Unity Ahead of WRC-27 to Secure 600MHz Band

Dr. Bashir Gwandu, a renowned telecommunications expert, has urged African countries to collaborate and adopt a unified stance at the upcoming World Radiocommunications Conference 2027 (WRC-27) to secure the 600MHz band for mobile spectrum allocation. Speaking at the 9th Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, Gwandu emphasized the need for African nations to join forces to optimize opportunities in the global telecommunications landscape.

At the conference, themed “From WRC-23 to WRC-27: Emerging Landscapes & Technologies and the Path Ahead,” Gwandu highlighted the critical importance of the 600MHz (3GPP n71) band, which is increasingly being allocated globally to support 4G and 5G networks. He expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation among African countries at the WRC-23, where 11 African nations, including Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan, were blocked from securing primary mobile spectrum allocation by their fellow African counterparts.

“Something clearly went wrong at WRC-23,” Gwandu said. “We, as Africans, must address it. Reasonable countries find solutions to accommodate the needs of their neighbors rather than block them.”

Gwandu underscored that African nations must present a cohesive front at WRC-27 to activate ITU Footnote 5.307A, which governs spectrum allocation. He urged countries lagging behind in readiness for the transition to mobile spectrum in the 600MHz band not to hinder those prepared to move forward.

“The world is moving towards IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) in this band,” Gwandu stated. “Eventually, most of us will adopt it. The direction is clear—600MHz will be allocated on a primary basis to mobile.”

He stressed the importance of considering unique country-specific factors, such as population size, geographical area, and data demand, when making decisions about frequency allocation. Gwandu noted that smaller nations like Rwanda and Benin might have different requirements compared to larger countries like Nigeria or Namibia, and decisions should reflect these differences.

Reflecting on the setbacks at WRC-23, Gwandu called for strategic policy meetings among African regulators and policymakers to resolve disagreements and ensure the successful activation of Footnote 5.307A at WRC-27.

“African countries must pull together to provide regulatory certainty across the continent,” he said. “Working in silos or blocking others can only create more uncertainties.”

Dr. Gwandu’s call for cooperation is a wake-up call for African nations. With WRC-27 months away, there is still time to rectify the mistakes of WRC-23 and secure the 600MHz spectrum, which holds immense potential for advancing Africa’s telecommunications sector and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide.

“The time is ripe for the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) and other stakeholders to rein in their members, eschew differences, and save Africa from lagging in telecommunications,” Gwandu concluded.

The world is watching, and Africa must rise to the occasion.

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