The Kingdom of Lesotho hosted the 1st African Preparatory Meeting for the 2027 African Telecommunications Union (ATU) World Radio Communication Conference (WRC-27) and the associated 2027 Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-27) from Tuesday to Friday.
While officially opening this conference, the Minister of Information, Communication, Science, Technology and Innovation Hon. Nthati Moorosi indicated that this conference comes at the right time when Lesotho and the African continent is committed to advancing African radio and communication services.
She said, “we are very pleased to note that the ATU continues to pay close attention to the radio spectrum in order to maximize its crucial role in the digital transformation agenda. This meeting is a demonstration of this fact.”
The conference intends to formulate and coordinate common African proposals, strategies, and action plans, and note the implementation of ATU Strategic Plan elements related to radiocommunications.
At the WRC-23, held in Dubai, UAE, the African continent prioritized several critical issues, including advocating for equitable access to satellite resources. This was aimed at ensuring that Africa secures its fair share in the global satellite communications market, which currently constitutes only 2% of the total market.
For WRC-27, members of the ATU are focusing on several key issues, which notably will keep expanding as discussions takes form. These include 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 (HIBS) to boost mobile network coverage in remote areas.
Other issues like, modernizing spectrum management and licensing, and developing frameworks for emerging technologies like 5G are 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.
The ATU Secretary General, John Omo, in his speech at the opening of the Preparatory Meeting urged experts, policymakers, and industry leaders at the forum to build on the successes of previous WRCs while addressing new challenges with the same determination and foresight.
“Effectively then, our preparation efforts for WRC-27 must keep in mind that this Conference is about more than just allocating frequencies. It is about ensuring that every African has the opportunity to access the digital world,” he said.
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.
