Nigeria and other African countries have been urged to support the allocation of the 600MHz spectrum for mobile broadband, with experts saying the low-frequency band could significantly improve connectivity in underserved and rural communities.
The call was made by former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Bashir Gwandu, who urged African countries to work together ahead of the 2027 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-27) to secure spectrum allocations that would support wider mobile coverage.
Gwandu, who also previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), spoke as an independent spectrum expert during the Sub-Saharan Spectrum Management Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
He stressed the importance of African countries presenting a united position on spectrum management while ensuring that individual countries are allowed to pursue allocations that reflect their specific connectivity needs.
The 600MHz band is increasingly being considered internationally for mobile broadband services, including 4G and 5G networks. Its low-frequency characteristics allow signals to travel over longer distances and penetrate buildings more effectively than higher-frequency bands, making it particularly useful for extending connectivity to sparsely populated areas.
Gwandu noted that Africa continues to face a significant gap between urban and rural connectivity, while high energy and infrastructure costs make network expansion into remote communities challenging.
He argued that countries should therefore have sufficient flexibility to adopt spectrum policies that match their population, geographical size and economic circumstances.
Nigeria was among 10 African countries whose efforts to advance the use of the 600MHz band were reportedly blocked during previous regional negotiations. Other affected countries included Senegal, Mauritania, Libya, Chad, The Gambia, Sudan, Namibia, Somalia and Tanzania.
Gwandu criticised what he described as disagreements among African countries over the allocation, warning that internal divisions could weaken the continent’s position during international spectrum negotiations.
He urged countries to pursue dialogue and cooperation rather than prevent neighbouring nations from adopting spectrum policies suited to their circumstances.
The former NCC chief also highlighted the broader economic benefits that could result from making additional low-frequency spectrum available for mobile services.
He said regulators should consider ways of making bands below 1GHz, including the 600MHz, 700MHz, 800MHz and 900MHz ranges, available in ways that encourage competition and investment.
According to him, low-band spectrum can enable network operators to cover wider areas with fewer infrastructure investments, making it particularly valuable for connecting rural schools, healthcare facilities and communities.
Gwandu further called on African regulators to provide clear and predictable policies that would encourage telecommunications companies to invest in infrastructure.
He said Africa should look beyond existing projections for the economic benefits of 5G and ensure that no African country is unnecessarily prevented from accessing spectrum that could help expand broadband connectivity.
The push for wider use of the 600MHz band comes as Nigeria continues to explore additional spectrum resources to meet growing demand for mobile data and improve coverage across the country.
With rural and underserved communities still facing connectivity challenges, greater access to low-band spectrum could play an important role in narrowing the digital divide and expanding access to high-speed broadband services.
