Agenda

08:30 – 09:00

Registration and Coffee

09:00 – 09:30

Opening Ceremony

09:00 – 09:10

Welcome Address from CA Kenya

Francis Wangusi , Director General , Communications Authority of Kenya

09:10 – 09:20

Welcome Address from ATU

Abdoulkarim Soumaila , Secretary General, ATU

09:20 – 09:30

Official Opening Speech from Chief Guest

Joseph Mucheru , EGH Cabinet Secretary , Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology Kenya

09:30 – 09:50

Keynote Presentation

Francois Rancy , Director, BR , ITU

09:50 – 10:55

Session 1: Preparing for WRC-19 in regions around the world

Preparation for WRC-19 is well underway all around the world. This session will provide the opportunity to hear from key representatives from ITU and from different regional bodies around the world (outside Sub-Saharan Africa) on the work that is being done in this area.


Moderator: Bashir Gwandu , Chairman, Commonwealth ITU Group

09:50 – 10:05

Regional Preparation for WRC-19 in Africa - current status and thinking

Kezias Mwale , Radiocommunications Coordinator, African Telecommunications Union

10:05 – 10:20

Preparation for WRC-19 in the MENA region - current status and thinking

Elsayed Azzouz , Vice Chairman, ASMG

10:20 – 10:35

Preparation for WRC-19 in Europe - current status and thinking

Stephen Talbot , Head of International Spectrum Policy, Ofcom

10:35 – 10:50

Preparation for WRC-19 in the RCC region - current status and thinking

10:50 – 11:10

Room-wide discussion and Q&A

11:10 – 11:30

Morning Refreshments

11:30 – 12:30

Session 2: Regional Preparation for WRC-19 in Africa

Following the discussions in the previous session regarding the key agenda items and regional positions that are emerging outside Africa, this session will now focus on Sub-Sahara and the work that is being done by ATU and other stakeholders. It will also examine the work that will need to be done over the next 2 years to ensure a co-ordinated approach in Africa, and one that works for the benefits of stakeholders and citizens everywhere.

- What are the key areas for discussion in the Sub-Saharan region?
- Where are there early signs of agreement and where is there disagreement (both between countries within the region; and also inter-regionally between ATU and other regional bodies around the world)?
- How can Africa ensure that it maintains the strong and influential positon that it has during previous WRC meetings?

Moderator: Kezias Mwale , Radiocommunications Coordinator, African Telecommunications Union

11:30 – 12:30

Panel Discussion

Ross Bateson , Special Adviser Government Affairs, GSMA
Patrick van Niftrik , Vice President, Spectrum Management & Development, EMEA, SES
Richard Makgotlho , Representative, ICASA
Tom Olwero , Acting Director, Frequency Spectrum Management, CA Kenya
Pape Cire Cisse , Head of Networks Quality Control, ARTP, Senegal

12:30 – 13:30

Lunch

13:30 – 15:35

Session 3: Delivering a forward-looking spectrum strategy to see short-term and long-term future connectivity needs

13:30 – 15:35

Session 3i: The 5G story for Africa - Paving the road to progress across the region

The ICT industry worldwide is continuing its push to advance the evolution of networks and bring 5G connectivity to end users by the year 2020. In Africa, whilst the potential impact of 5G is huge, the thinking is more long-term, with work continuing on the roll-out of 4G-LTE networks and in putting the foundations in place to ensure that the region is ready for the 5G revolution when it arrives. Despite this more long-term focus however, there is still a lot of work being done in the continent even now to prepare for 5G. Studies and pilots are taking place and a number of key use cases are starting to emerge. And alongside this, regulators and Governments are starting to look at how they need to work to start preparing for 5G and future technologies when they are developing their spectrum strategies of today. This session will look at the 5G story for Africa that is starting to emerge. It will look at the huge potential that 5G offers to African countries, communities and citizens, at the preparatory work that needs to be done in order to deliver on this, and at the path and likely timeframes ahead.
Amit Nagpal , Partner, Aetha Consulting

13:30 – 13:45

Presentation: The 5G Story for Africa

Wydeman Coetzee , Regulatory & Industry Analyst, Ericsson

13:45 – 14:00

Presentation

Bashir Patel , Global Spectrum & Policy Regulator, ESOA

14:00 – 14:15

Presentation

Galiam Ouedraogo , Head of Radio Spectrum Planning and Coordination Service, ARCEP BURKINA

14:15 – 14:30

Presentation

Tapera Kazembe , Manager Spectrum Management, POTRAZ, Zimbabwe

14:30 – 15:10

Room-wide discussion: Getting Africa ready for 5G

15:10 – 15:30

Thinking Point: Best practice in pricing and benchmarking 4G and 5G spectrum

Graham Friend , Managing Director, Coleago

15:30 – 15:55

Afternoon Refreshments

15:55 – 17:45

Session 3ii: Spectrum for 4G - Meeting 'shorter-term' future data growth needs

Sub-Saharan Africa has not yet experienced the huge increase in demand for mobile broadband that has placed massive capacity constraints on networks and caused a huge a push for new spectrum bands in other regions. However, the number of smartphone connections across the continent has almost doubled over the last two years and some are predicting mobile data traffic growth of around 55 percent annually in Africa in the six years leading up to 2022. This trend coupled with the lack of a fixed broadband network to offload traffic has led to some predicting that in the future the region risks an even more severe ‘spectrum crunch’ than has been seen elsewhere. This session will look at forecasting the likely demand for data across African countries in the short term and the long term, and the options that exist to find the capacity to meet this.
- How is the demand for mobile data across African countries set to increase in future years?
- What options exist for regulators and operators to ensure that this demand is met, and what can be done now to prepare for this increased demand?
- What timeframe should be used to look at releasing additional spectrum and in which bands?
- What role can bands such as 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz and 2600MHz play as capacity bands, and particularly the latter two given that they are not already as widely allocated?
- What role will the C-Band play in helping to avoid as capacity crunch, and how can co-existence with incumbent users be managed?
- How can regulators, operators, and other stakeholders balance the short-term needs for 4G spectrum with the need to work
together to ensure a smooth transition from 4G to 5G?
Samer Mourad , Principal , Analysys Mason

15:55 – 16:10

Introduction from the Moderator

Samer Mourad , Principal , Analysys Mason

16:10 – 16:25

Presentation

Cesar Gutierrez Miguelez , Head of Middle East and Africa Wireless Regulatory Policy, Huawei

16:25 – 16:40

Presentation

Richard Womersley , Director of Spectrum Consulting, LS telcom

16:40 – 16:55

Presentation

16:55 – 17:10

Presentation

Andrew Kisaka , Engineer , Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority

17:10 – 17:45

Room wide Discussion

09:00 – 10:35

Session 4: Spectrum strategies to meet the needs of today - delivering sustainable, wide-reaching and reliable connectivity for all

Yesterday afternoon focussed on delivering spectrum to meet future connectivity needs. This morning’s session will return to look at some of the challenges, issues and priorities that exist today.

09:00 – 09:15

Keynote Presentation

Andrew Rugege , Regional Director for Africa, ITU

09:15 – 10:35

Session 4i: Accelerating the release of the Digital Dividend - Challenges and Solutions

More than 2 years on from the ITU-mandated 2015 deadline for analogue switch-off in the 800MHz band, the process is still ongoing in many countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, and in some instances, is still in the planning stage. And with focus around the world now moving on to the 700MHz band and the second digital dividend, it is vitally important that both these bands are cleared and reallocated as soon as possible. This session will examine the factors that are causing things to move so slowly, and at what can be done to overcome these challenges and accelerate the process. It will look at examples of countries that have successfully completed migration and at what can be learnt from the strategies and solutions that they implemented. Ultimately it will look at the best way forward for individual countries and for the region as a whole in order to ensure that the benefit of the digital dividend in both the 700MHz and 800MHz band is maximized as soon as possible.

- Why is it important that the 700MHz and 800MHz bands are cleared and reallocated as soon as possible?
- What is the current progress with digital migration across the region?
- What are the barriers that are slowing things down, and how can these be overcome?
- Which countries in the region have successfully completed the migration process, and what lessons can be learnt from their experiences?


Moderator: Kezias Mwale , Radiocommunications Coordinator, African Telecommunications Union

09:15 – 09:20

Introduction from the Moderator

Moderator: Kezias Mwale , Radiocommunications Coordinator, African Telecommunications Union

09:20 – 09:35

Presentation: The importance of the 700MHz and 800MHz bands

Matthew Harrison-Harvey , Managing Executive, International Legal and Regulatory, Vodacom Group

09:45 – 10:00

Case Study - The digital migration process in Kenya

Daniel Obam , Communications Radio Technology Expert, National Communications Secretariat, Kenya

10:00 – 10:15

Case Study - The digital migration process in Uganda

Sarah Kabahuma , Frequency Planning and Authorization Officer, Uganda Communications Commission

10:05 – 10:20

Case Study - The digital migration process in Burundi

Clovis Nugame , Frequency Management and Control Officer, Agence de Régulation et Contrôle des Télécommunications, Burundi

10:20 – 10:45

Panel Discussion

10:45 – 11:00

Morning Refreshments

11:00 – 12:55

Session 4ii: Connecting the Unconnected: Progress in the delivery of mobile broadband to rural areas

The delivery of low cost and sustainable connectivity to all citizens remains a key priority for regulators throughout the region. Identifying innovative solutions and the right technology mix to deliver this in both an affordable and efficient manner is key to the solution. This session will offer delegates the opportunity to hear from policymakers and industry representatives on the progress that has been made over the past twelve months, and look forward to how the discussions at WRC-19 can help to be part of a solution and more generally at the role of different stakeholders going forward. Jean-Jacques Massima-Landji , Central Africa and Madagascar Representative, ITU

11:00 – 11:15

Progress made in delivering mobile broadband in East African Countries

Ally Yahaya Simba , Executive Secretary , East African Communications Organisation

11:15 – 11:30

Presentation - The Role of Spectrum Policy in Bridging the Digital Divide

Shola Saani , Senior Policy Manager, Africa, GSMA

11:30 – 11:45

Presentation

Jeffrey Yan , Director, Technology Policy, Microsoft

11:45 – 12:00

Presentation

Ben Roberts , Chief Technical Officer, Liquid Telecom

12:00 – 12:15

Presentation - Communication Services in Rural Areas – Big opportunity for small satellites

Andrey Piletsky , Manager of Spectrum Affairs, Sky and Space Global

12:15 – 12:35

Room wide Discussion

12:35 – 15:55

Session 5: The bigger picture - making spectrum work for Africa

This interactive session will be an opportunity for a frank and open discussion on the potential that spectrum has to provide benefits to society and economies in Africa, and what needs to be done to maximise this.

Following a high-level scene-setting presentation, attendees will be provided with several key questions and invited to discuss these and brain-storm in smaller groups. Following this, an open room-wide discussion will be held, where representatives from these groups will be invited to provide details on the conversations that they have had. A panel of experts will also be on hand to give their thoughts and provide input.


Moderator: Muthoki Mumo , Journalist Reporter - Technology and Telecoms,

12:35 – 12:50

Setting the Scene - Keynote Presentations

Elizabeth Migwalla , Senior Director and Head of Government Affairs, Africa, Qualcomm

12:50 – 13:05

Setting the Scene - Keynote Presentation

13:05 – 13:55

Lunch

13:55 – 14:40

Group-discussion around tables

Possible themes for questions to be asked:
Which are likely to be the most important spectrum bands for Africa in the next ten years, and how can the value of these be maximised?
What does Africa need to be doing in the build up to WRC-19 to best ensure that its voice is being heard on the global stage, and that international as well as regional spectrum policy decisions are in the best interest of the continent?
What can be done to get Africa moving more quickly with regards to releasing spectrum?
What does Africa need to do to ensure it is not left behind in the technological revolution – smart technologies, IoT, connected cars?

14:40 – 15:40

Room-wide Discussion with a panel of experts

Francois Rancy , Director, BR , ITU
Abdoulkarim Soumaila , Secretary General, ATU
Elizabeth Migwalla , Senior Director and Head of Government Affairs, Africa, Qualcomm
Tom Olwero , Acting Director, Frequency Spectrum Management, CA Kenya
Bethwel Ndung’u , Head of Radio Planning & Optimisation, Airtel

15:40 – 15:55

Conclusions from panel and journalist