African telecommunications regulators and spectrum administrators have been urged to work together to secure a primary allocation of the 600MHz spectrum band for mobile services across the continent.
The call was made by telecommunications expert and former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Bashir Gwandu, during his keynote address at the 2026 Spectrum Management Conference in Tunis, Tunisia.
Gwandu said the 600MHz band could play a major role in expanding affordable 4G and 5G services in rural and underserved communities because of its ability to cover wider areas at relatively lower deployment costs.
According to a report by The Guardian, Gwandu noted that more than 135 million people living in rural areas across Africa remain unconnected, warning that inadequate access to low band spectrum could further widen the continent’s digital divide.
He explained that frequencies below 1GHz have superior propagation characteristics, allowing mobile signals to travel longer distances and penetrate buildings more effectively. This, he said, makes them particularly suitable for countries with large rural populations and high network deployment costs.
Gwandu also cited findings from the GSMA Spectrum and Rural Connectivity Report, which indicate that an additional 50MHz of sub 1GHz spectrum could significantly improve 4G and 5G coverage.
He urged African policymakers to treat spectrum management as a development priority, noting that improved connectivity would support education, digital inclusion, local content creation, economic empowerment and social participation.
The former NCC executive vice chairman also highlighted existing international regulatory provisions covering the 600MHz band. He noted that Nigeria and several other African countries currently have secondary mobile allocations under ITU regulations, while some countries in other regions have secured primary allocations and IMT identification.
Gwandu called for African administrations to push for broader participation in future International Telecommunication Union (ITU) studies and negotiations concerning the 470 to 694MHz spectrum range.
He particularly urged African countries to seek amendments to Resolution 235 adopted at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference so that African administrations can fully participate in studies that will influence future spectrum allocation decisions.
He further called on African nations to coordinate their positions ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 in Shanghai, China, stressing that a common regional position would strengthen the continent’s ability to secure spectrum resources needed to connect underserved populations.
Gwandu said Africa should approach spectrum policy decisions with the broader public interest in mind, arguing that connecting people without adequate digital access is essential to the continent’s economic and social development.
Leave a comment