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The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) is hosting the first Africa Preparatory Meeting ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27). The meeting began on Tuesday (13th August) in Maseru. It marks a significant milestone in the continent’s efforts to harmonise its telecommunications landscape and advocate for its unique needs on the global stage.
The conference also served as a crucial platform for African countries to deliberate on various proposals. The meeting aimed to establish African common positions that will be presented at WRC-27, where member states of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reviewed and revised the international radio regulations governing the allocation and use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits to ensure efficient and interference-free radiocommunication services worldwide.
Speaking at the preparatory meeting, the minister of information, communication, science, technology, and innovation, Nthati Moorosi, said she was pleased that the ATU continued to pay close attention to the radio spectrum to maximise its crucial role in the digital transformation agenda and the meeting was a demonstration of this fact.
At the WRC-23 held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Africa prioritised several critical issues, including advocating for equitable access to satellite resources. This ensures that the continent secured its fair share in the global satellite communications market, which currently constitutes only two percent of the total market.
For WRC-27, members of the ATU will be focusing on several key issues, including enhancing aeronautical and maritime communication systems to improve safety and reliability, expanding high-speed mobile internet access through new IMT frequency bands, and deploying High-Altitude Platform Stations to boost mobile network coverage in remote areas. Other issues like modernising spectrum management and licensing, and developing frameworks for emerging technologies like 5G will also be high on the agenda.
These efforts aim to bridge the digital divide, support socio-economic development, and ensure Africa remains competitive in the global telecommunications and ICT market. ATU secretary general, John Omo, urged experts, policymakers, and industry leaders at the Maseru forum to build on the successes of previous WRCs while addressing new challenges with the same determination and foresight. The preparation efforts for WRC-27 must keep in mind that this conference was about more than just allocating frequencies. It is about ensuring that every African has the opportunity to access the digital world, Omo stated.
Some of the WRC-27 proposals are designed to improve safety and reliability for pilots and maritime navigators, bridge the digital divide through recommendations on spectrum policies and regulations that will ensure reliable internet access to underserved and rural communities, and dramatically improve mobile network coverage in remote areas.
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The meeting considered key WRC-23 outcomes and their implementation work plans, and established ATU Working Groups for WRC-27 to formulate and coordinate common African proposals, strategies, and action plans. It also discussed the implementation of ATU Strategic Plan elements related to radiocommunications, ensuring the continent’s interests are effectively represented at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027.
