Johannesburg, 18-19 February 2014 - The Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference is discussing major issues relating to the unique characteristics of the region and how they impact spectrum management. WRC-15 is the ‘hottest’ of hot topics on their radar with a collective wish amongst regional broadcasters to retain a united set of regional positions at the Conference. But with rural populations sometimes reaching 80%, DTT in its infancy (despite national commitments), and mobile broadband services that are concentrated on urban areas, there remain many challenges in the region of exploiting the currently available spectrum resources.
EBU representative at the conference, Peter MacAvock, stressed the importance of regulators better harmonising and coordinating their policies across national boundaries. He also pointed to the need for mobile operators to roll out services in their current spectrum allocations, and deliver on their promise to serve rural communities with mobile services, before seeking yet more spectrum from legitimate users.
For more information on spectrum, see the EBU Spectrum Management & Regulation Group and T&I Spectrum.