The African telecommunications industry has recommended stepping up regional collaboration on radio spectrum management to make room for the expected growth in terrestrial and space services, and to ensure communities are connected across the continent.
Regulators, industry experts and academia met virtually between 5 and 16 July to discuss Africa's future radio-frequency spectrum requirements in the context of revisions made to the Radio Regulations by the last World Radiocommunication Conference WRC-19 held in Sharm-el-Sheikh.
Participants at the ITU Regional Radiocommunication Seminar for Africa (
RRS-21-Africa) organized in collaboration with the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), reviewed updates to the Radio Regulations, the key international treaty governing radio spectrum management. They also discussed the current regulatory framework for international frequency management, ITU Radiocommunication (ITU-R) recommendations, and best practices for spectrum use by both terrestrial and space services.
The seminar drew more than 270 participants from 54 countries, including 42 countries in ITU's Africa Region, as well as from international organizations, the telecommunications industry, African network operators, industry associations, and academia.
"The digital revolution is continuously opening doors to a variety of new applications that are spurring greater interest in, and demand for, a limited spectrum resource," said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. "Well-managed radio spectrum is part of the basic infrastructure to support national and regional socio-economic progress. Regional cooperation in this vital field will enable countries in Africa to achieve universal connectivity and promote sustainable development."
Addressing Africa's connectivity challenges
Telecom industry representatives at RRS-21 Africa shared their expertise to help advance and accelerate the development of radiocommunication services across the continent, especially with respect to deployment challenges, growing reliance on satellite systems, and emergency communications. Participants also discussed an update on the GE84 Plan Optimization project, which has identified additional frequencies for FM radio broadcasting across Africa.
ATU Secretary-General John Omo said: "Our collaboration with ITU continues to enable many countries to make progress in the field of spectrum management, including identification of new frequencies for FM radio broadcasting, 5G implementation and licencing of satellite services. However, international cooperation must also address each region's specific development priorities." He added, "Rural connectivity remains a challenge across Africa. ATU looks forward to working with ITU in the development of spectrum policy, regulations and practices to scale up digital connectivity even in the hardest-to-reach areas."
Hands-on applications
The seminar covered the regulatory framework for both terrestrial and space services and the procedures for recording frequency assignments in the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR). It also included demonstrations of ITU software tools that assist countries promote the efficient and effective management of the scarce radio frequency spectrum.
Participants gained experience with ITU notification procedures, as well as with the software and publications made available by the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau to ITU's Member States and ITU-R Members.
Mario Maniewicz, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau said, "The regional seminar series is a key component of our capacity building programme to strengthen national and regional policies and ensure better use of the radio spectrum. These meetings enable the administrations of our member states, as well as companies and organizations engaged with us as members, to familiarize themselves with key tools and documents for efficient, forward-looking spectrum management."
Note to editors
The Radio Regulations were last updated at the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19).
ITU Regional Radiocommunication Seminars aim to assist ITU Member States in spectrum management and the application of the Radio Regulations, with a particular focus on the needs of developing countries. The regional discussions complement ITU's biennial World Radiocommunication Seminars series in laying the groundwork for major global conferences every four years.
The 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (
WRC-23) provides the next occasion for reviewing and revising aspects of the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbital resources worldwide.
Resources and more information on the Seminar are
available here.
