Agenda

Morning

09:00 – 09:45

Session 1: Welcome and Keynote Presentations

09:00 – 09:30

Welcome Ceremony

High-level Representative, Botswana*
Andrew Rugege, Regional Direector, ITU

09:30 – 09:45

Keynote Presentation

Ben Ba, Head of Terrestrial Publication & Registration Division, Radiocommunication Bureau , ITU

09:45 – 10:00

Session 2: Ensuring a shared voice for Africa at WRC-19

At the 2nd Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM), held in Geneva earlier this year, a report was compiled to act as a ‘guide’ for delegates participating at WRC-19. The report is the longest ever seen, reflecting a number of detailed and contentious agenda items focussing on issues such as the identification of spectrum for IMT and for HAPS. Whilst considerable progress has been made in preparation for WRC-19, a significant amount of work still remains as regions now look to finalise their regional positions. The next step for this in Africa will be the ATU Working Group meetings in June, and ahead of this, this session will look at the current status and thinking in the region and elsewhere with regards to the key agenda items, and then bring in perspectives from sub-regional representatives and industry stakeholders to look at what they are doing to feed into the preparatory process, and at how a co-ordinated and strong voice for Africa can be ensured.

- What were the key outcomes of CPM, and to what extent have postions around the world become clearer as we enter the final preparatory period for WRC-19?
- What are likely to be the most contentious and detailed agenda items?
- What work is being done in Africa as the region works towards the ATU Working Group meeting for WRC-19; and APM-4 - the final regional preparatory meeting?
- What role is being played by sub-regional groups such as ECOWAS, ECCAS, EACO and CRASA to work alongside ATU and member state to feed into the preparatory process?
- How can Africa best ensure a co-ordinated, strong voice at WRC-19, and that the region maintains the influential position that has been seen at previous WRC meetings?
- How can it be ensured that this single ‘voice’ best represents the interest of all spectrum stakeholders and citizens in the region?

Moderator: Dick Sono, Chief Director - Radio Frequency Spectrum,, Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, South Africa

09:45 – 10:00

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

Kezias Mwale, Radiocommunications Coordinator, ATU

10:00 – 11:00

The view from around the regions

Representatives from each of the key regional groups in Sub-Saharan Africa will discuss the work that is being done at regional level to feed into the preparation for WRC-19, and at the challenges that still lie ahead.

Sarah Kabahuma, liason Manager , EACO
Zouli Bonkoungou, Commissioner for Telecommunication and Information Technologies, ECOWAS*
Representative, CRASA*
Representative, ECCAS*

11:00 – 11:20

Morning Refreshments

11:20 – 11:50

State your case…the view from industry stakeholders

Representatives from industry will have 5 minutes to outline their key priorities, hopes and concerns ahead of WRC-19.

Ethan Lavan, Director of Orbital Resources, Eutelsat
Sergio Bovelli, Manager, Market Access and Regulation, Airbus
Jean-Pierre Faisan, Head of the Communications Working Group, Broadcast Networks Europe
Representative, GSMA
Representative, Mobile Supplier*

11:50 – 12:35

Room-Wide Discussion - Ensuring a shared voice for Africa at WRC-19

An interactive discussion on WRC-19, bringing in audience perspectives using the interactive voting tool Sli.do

Afternoon

12:35 – 13:30

Lunch

13:00 – 15:40

Session 3: Charting Africa’s journey to 5G – “Beyond Spectrum: A Conversation Towards a Harmonized Continental 5G Strategy”

5G has the potential to enable long-term digital transformation and contribute to the emergence of smart societies across Africa. If harnessed in the right way, the capacity, speed and reliable connections that it can provide could be crucial in the aim of realizing the AU Agenda 2063 aspirations and UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and really make a difference in key sectors such as healthcare and education. But for this potential to be reached, there is needs to be a concrete and deliberate plan in place that takes into account the needs of all users throughout the region.

This open session will be an opportunity for all stakeholders and interested parties present to brainstorm on what an effective African continental approach towards 5G adoption could look like.

The session will be headlined by a vision keynote from the African Union Commission, followed by a diverse panel with representation from ITU, ATU, Government (policy and regulatory actors) Industry (mobile, satellite, broadcasting), and others. The session will conclude with an audience feedback moment.
The objective of the session will be to gather ideas in an informal atmosphere, on suitable harmonized, holistic policies to facilitate successful 5G introduction and adoption on the continent, bearing in mind the unique challenges and opportunities that 5G offers to the developing economies of Africa.

Speakers for this session to be confirmed shortly.

15:40 – 16:00

Afternoon Refreshments

16:00 – 16:15

Thinking Point: Africa's first C-Band HTS Satellite

Representative, AMOS Spacecom

16:15 – 17:30

Session 4: Focus on…C-Band - Delivering the best approach for the Sub-Sahara region

The 3.3GHz - 4.2GHz C-Band is considered around the world as an important band for the launch of 5G services. It offers a compromise between the wide coverage of lower frequencies and the higher capacity of millimetre waves and is seen as an ideal band both for this initial launch of 5G and also to deliver additional 4G capacity. However, there are a number of challenges that need to be overcome. In Africa, it is intensively used for other services, in particular by the satellite industry, where C-band's high resistance to rain fade makes it crucial in the. And in the lower (3.3GHz – 3.6GHz) portion of the band, where some countries are already looking at rolling-out 5G services, there is a great deal of fragmentation in the way in which licences are currently assigned. This session will address the best way forward in meeting the needs of all the key users in the band, and at how the available spectrum can be allocated in the most efficient way.

- What role will the C-Band play in the roll-out of 5G services in the Sub Sahara region?
- How much C-band spectrum will mobile operators need in the next ten to fifteen years, both in order to roll-out 5G; and also, to deliver additional capacity for 4G services?
- What is the current status of deployment in the 3.3GHz – 3.6GHz portion of the band across the region?
- To what extent should Sub-Saharan countries look to the approaches taken in other regions around the world when developing a strategy for the C-Band? What specific factors that may be unique to Africa also need to be taken into account?
- What work needs to be done at a national and regional level to cope with the fragmentation that has been caused by legacy assignments in the lower C-band, and what is the best approach to deliver the large contiguous blocks that are best suited for 5G roll-out?
- How can it be ensured that any realignment of the C-band can deliver a solution that balances the needs of all users in the band?
- What measures are required to protect and preserve satellite users and other incumbents in the band? How important is C-Band to satellite in the region for the foreseeable future?
- Given how important the band is for satellite, are there alternative options to substitute for C-Band and deliver the connectivity that mobile requires?

Moderator: Matthew Fried, Senior Manager, Aetha Consulting

Basebi Mosinyi, Manager Spectrum Planning, BOCRA, Botswana
Hazem Moakkit, Vice President, Spectrum Strategy, Intelsat
Representative, Mobile Operator*
Representative, National Communications Secretariat, Kenya*
Representative, Mobile Supplier*

17:30 – 19:00

Networking Reception - hosted by Broadcast Network Europe

Morning

09:00 – 10:15

Session 5: Bringing the required spectrum to the market - Best practice in developing roadmaps for spectrum release and ensuring a quick, fair and efficient award process

One of the key factors that mobile operators point to when looking at justifying investment in new technologies and networks is the need for regulatory certainty on the spectrum that is going to be made available to them. For this to be achieved, there is a need for countries to i). have a defined strategy and targets for the spectrum that they plan to release and for delivering connectivity more generally; and ii). ensure that once spectrum has been allocated for IMT, it is then awarded and brought to market as quickly and as possible and at a fair price. This session will address these two challenges, and at how regulators can ensure that a defined strategy for spectrum release is in place, alongside a predictable and co-ordinated plan for then allocating bandwidth and deploying services as quickly, efficiently and fairly as possible.

- What are the best examples of national broadband or connectivity plans across the Sub Sahara region, and what targets do these set?
- What can regulators in those countries that do not yet have a spectrum roadmap in place do to create certainty for operators and help them understand when spectrum will become available?
- What bands should regulators be looking at prioritising when it comes to planning for spectrum release? Should countries and operators be focussing on the roll-out of 3G, 4G or 5G services?
- How can countries best strike the balance between the ever-increasing spectrum needs of mobile and those of other users?
- How can it be ensured that spectrum is available for use immediately once it has been auctioned and awarded, and how should the clearing of bands be arranged to achieve this?
- Once a band has been cleared, how can it be ensured that the award of the available bandwidth is allocated as quickly, fairly and efficiently as possible?

Moderator: Soren Sorensen, Associate Director, NERA Consulting

Richard Magkotlho, Radiocommunications Specialists, ICASA
Austine Nwaulune, Director Spectrum Administration, Nigeria Communications Commission*
Representative, Mobile Supplier*
Representative, Mobile Operator*

10:15 – 11:05

Session 6: A ‘360 Degree’ Case Study – The award of the 700 MHz band in Tanzania

Tanzania recently held its first ever spectrum auction, allocating spectrum bandwidth in the 700MHz band, and raising $20 million in the process. This session will offer a unique ‘360 degree’ case study of the auction and award process, with perspectives from the regulator responsible for the auction; the experts advising on design and strategy; and an operator who took part and was successful in securing spectrum.

Moderator: Soren Sorensen, Associate Director, NERA Consulting

10:15 – 10:25

The view from the regulator

Senzige Kisenge, Manager, Spectrum Management, TCRA Tanzania*

10:25 – 10:35

The view from the operator

Shergen Padayachee, Executive Head, Technology & Wholesale, Vodacom Group

10:35 – 10:45

The view from the expert advisor

Scott Mckenzie, Partner, Coleago

10:45 – 11:05

Q&A and Discussion

11:00 – 11:20

Morning Refreshments

11:25 – 11:40

Session 7: Connecting the Unconnected – understanding and meeting the connectivity needs of rural communities

A comprehensive solution for bridging the “digital divide” cannot simply be delivered through a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. There is a need for Government and regulators to gain a deep understanding of the very different connectivity needs of diverse communities on the continent, and then look to focus resources and utilise a range of different connectivity solutions and technologies to deliver on these. This session will explore how this can be achieved.

- How can Governments and regulators ensure that they are truly understanding the connectivity requirements of citizens and communities everywhere, and particularly those in rural areas?
- How can it then be ensured that the required resources and investment is available to deliver on these needs? What incentives can be used to help with this?
- What different solutions and technologies are available, and how can it be ensured that the right technology mix is put in place in each case to meet the needs of specific communities and regions?

11:25 – 11:40

Understanding the connectivity needs of rural communities – a consumer perspective

Xaverine Ndikumagenge, Regional Networker for Africa, Consumer International

11:40 – 11:55

Presentation

Representative, GSMA

11:55 – 12:15

Two perspectives on the role of HAPS in connecting the unconnected

Sergio Bovelli, Manager, Market Access and Regulation, Airbus
Representative, SoftBank

12:15 – 12:30

Presentation

Laith Hamad, Director Market Access, OneWeb

12:30 – 12:45

Presentation

Representative, Microsoft

12:45 – 13:00

Presentation

Representative, Ubiquitilink

13:00 – 13:45

Room-Wide Discussion

Afternoon

13:45 – 14:45

Networking Lunch

14:45 – 14:45

End of Conference