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Telecom regulators from eleven countries in eastern Africa are advocating for unified rules on managing radio spectrum, stating that the absence of standardization is hindering broadband development in the region. This issue was discussed during the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) Kigali 2025, which is taking place until October 23. Although the MWC occurs at a time when Africa’s telecommunications industry is growing rapidly, expected to reach over $82 billion by 2029, telecom specialists highlighted gaps in license renewals, valuation, and coordination as obstacles to digital progress. Experts at a meeting organized by the East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) noted that nearly 400 million people in eastern Africa still lack access to mobile broadband. “The question is no longer whether we need harmonized frameworks, but how quickly we can create them,” said Gordon Kalema, who heads the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP). ALSO READ: Rwanda initiates a comprehensive study on the digital economy One challenge, Kalema noted, is the renewal of licenses. In many instances, new fees or conditions are introduced at the last minute, making it difficult for companies to plan and invest. Some experts advocate for longer licenses to provide investors with more stability, while others caution against adopting global models that may not suit local markets. ALSO READ: Why Africa should focus on the digital economy There is also discussion about how spectrum should be shared. Some nations use auctions to generate revenue, but this can disadvantage smaller players and reduce competition. In some cases, major operators purchase large portions of spectrum and do not utilize them, preventing others from entering the market. Another concern is that spectrum prices vary across the region. Without a standardized approach to setting prices, operators face uncertainty when expanding into other countries. For Daniel Onyango Obam, a Communications Radio Technology expert, short-term national strategies also fail to keep up with emerging technologies like 5G and the Internet of Things. “Efforts to manage cross-border signals have also been inconsistent. A common tool known as the Harmonised Calculation Method for Africa (HCM4A) was developed to prevent interference, but many countries have not fully implemented it. The growth of satellite-to-device communication is introducing new regulatory challenges as both mobile and satellite networks compete for the same bands,” Obam stated. He observed that “many governments” neglect how other sectors, including health, agriculture, and smart cities, could benefit from improved spectrum planning. “At the heart of the debate is one major question: should spectrum be considered a public resource to encourage inclusion, or as an asset governments sell to generate revenue?” he questioned. According to the latest GSMA report, closing the 59 percent usage gap and 11 percent coverage gap in eastern Africa could unlock over $700 billion in GDP by 2030. However, the region still uses significantly less spectrum than the global average. “We’re not just talking about infrastructure,” Kalema said. “We’re talking about whether half a billion people will have meaningful access to the digital economy in the next decade.” Regional blocs are now working on joint guidelines for license duration, equitable pricing, and anti-hoarding measures. The meeting included officials from Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

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