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Former Acting CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Dr <a href="https://ng.linkedin.com/in/bashir-gwandu-phd-ceng-fiet-1002a117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bashir Gwandu</a> has urged African countries to unite and work together to secure 600 megahertz (MHz) band mobile spectrum allocations. 
He made this known while presenting on the topic: The shape of Post-WRC spectrum ecosystems at the 9th Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference 2024, held in Nairobi, Kenya. 
The event has the theme: From WRC-23 to WRC-27- Emerging Landscapes&nbsp; &amp; Technologies and the Path Ahead. 
Dr Gwandu 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 allocate spectrums for some countries. 
The administrator who played a key role in founding the ATU (African Telecommunications Union) WRC coordination meetings also expressed disappointment that the continent’s focus on collaborative efforts was waning. 
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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.&nbsp; 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 switch to co-primary allocation. 
Eleven African countries had requested 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 denied include Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya, Chad, Gambia, Sudan, Namibia, Somalia, and Tanzania.&nbsp; Dr Gwandu posited that fighting for the status quo to remain or ‘No Change’ in this case is akin to refusing an available front seat and fighting for a back seat. 
“Therefore, colleagues, something went wrong at WRC23, and we as Africans need to address it. We must work together, have a 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,” he said. 
He urged the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) to remain effective by following its rules. He added that the world is moving towards IMT in this band, with some countries ready now and others later. 
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“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,” he said. 
He urged the countries that are not ready 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. 
The telecom guru said these factors differ 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. 
“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 concluded that there is a need to provide regulatory certainty to different industries. 
Read also: <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/09/20/ncc-plans-to-introduce-6ghz-spectrum/">Internet speed: Nigeria set to join South Africa, Morocco as NCC plans to introduce 6GHz spectrum</a>
The post <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/11/11/600mhz-spectrum-gwandu-africa-unite/">600MHz spectrum allocation: former NCC head, Gwandu urges African countries to work together</a> first appeared on <a href="https://technext24.com">Technext</a>.

600MHz spectrum allocation: former NCC head, Gwandu urges African countries to work together

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