9th Sub Sahara Spectrum Management Conference

Event Overview

The 9th Sub Sahara Spectrum Management Conference will take place in Q3 2024. We will shortly be announcing the venue and confirmed dates. You can sign up for our mailing list using the “Keep Informed” button to keep up to date with announcements.

Across 2 days attendees had the opportunity to be involved in discussions on the key spectrum topics for the Sub Sahara region and beyond, through interactive sessions, networking opportunities, an exhibition area and much more.

The conference is part of The Global Spectrum SeriesThe world’s largest collection of regional spectrum policy conferences. Click on the images on the left to find out more about the series and to view the photos from last year. 

  • Event Day Vlog

    Highlights from the event in Yaoundé in August 2023
  • Global Spectrum Series

    This event takes place as part of the Global Spectrum Series - the world’s largest collection of regional spectrum policy conferences.

Event Day Vlog

Event Photos

Key Themes in 2023

Hover over the images to find out more…

  • WRC-23

    Final preparation & beyond
  • Key spectrum challenges for 2024 and beyond

  • The upper 6GHz band, the 3.5GHz band, and the future of the 470-694 Mhz band

  • Continuing the path towards 4G, 5G and beyond

  • Best practice in spectrum licencing, awards and pricing

  • Tackling Africa's Digital Divide

  • Direct Device connectivity

  • Maximising the potential of FWA

Event Background

For 8 years, The Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference has provided the leading neutral platform for spectrum stakeholders policy discussion in the region. This event is taking place as part of The Global Spectrum Series.

In 2023, over 300 delegates joined us in Yaoundé, Cameroon – you can find out more about the two days by watching the event day vlog below. 

Global Spectrum Series

The Global Spectrum Series is the world’s largest collection of regional spectrum policy conferences. 

2022 Edition

The Sub Sahara Spectrum Management Conference is now in its 8th year. The 2022 edition welcomed over 600 delegates in -person and virtually. More information on this event and links to catch up sessions can be found below. 

Organisers & Partners 2023

Hosted by

cameroon
Updated ITU Logo

Supported by

africa-telecommunications-unionb
ITU square

Platinum Partners

Forum Global (1)
Access Partnership
Coleago
DSA
Ericsson
GSMA 2022
GSOA
Huawei new 2023
Intelsat
Lynk
Meta
Nokia New 2023
Qualcomm
Secretariat
SES 2021 v1
SpaceX

Gold Partners

BNE-wp
Cullen
Ls telcom
ZTE

Knowledge Partners

Aetha 2021 logo
NERA-wordpress-logo

Silver Partners

Shure

Knowledge Partners

Aetha 2021 logo
NERA-wordpress-logo

Last Year's Speakers Included

H.E. Minister Minette LIBOM Li LIKENG

Minette Libom Li Likeng

Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of Cameroon

Ilham Ghazi

Ilham Ghazi

Head, Broadcasting Services Division
ITU

Kezias MWALE 5 (2)

Kezias Mwale

Technical Coordinator African
Telecommunications Union (ATU)

El Hadjar Abdouramane 240

El Hadjar Abdouramane

Chairman
ATU Working Group on Fixed and Mobile Services for WRC-23

Abraham Oshadami 240

Abraham Oshadami

Director of Spectrum Administration Department
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

Victor_Kweka_240

Victor Kweka

RF Spectrum Management Engineer
Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority

Basebi

Basebi Moisinyi

Vice-Chairperson at ATU WG4B-Satellite Issues & Deputy Director, Spectrum Management
BOCRA

Zourmba Aboubakar 240

Zourmba Aboubakar

Deputy General Manager
Telecommunications Regulatory Board, Cameroon

Wako Gababo

Gababo Wako

Spectrum Manager
CA Kenya

Jean Jacques Massima 240

Jean-Jacques Massima

Representative for Central Africa and Madagascar
ITU

Elizabeth Migwalla

Elizabeth Migwalla

Vice President International Government Affairs
Qualcomm

frans

Joe Frans

AUB Expert
Broadcast Networks Europe

Elena Scaramuzzi

Elena Scaramuzzi

Head of Global Research
Cullen International

Daniel Obam_resized

Daniel Obam

Special Advisor, Africa Policy & Regulatory Affairs
Huawei

Shreyas Ravi 240

Shreyas Ravi

Associate Director
Secretariat Economists

Scott McKenzie 240

Scott McKenzie

Director
Coleago Consulting

Eiman Mohyeldin 240

Eiman Mohyeldin

Head of Spectrum Standardization
Nokia

Stephane M. Ekome 240

Stephane Mebaley Ekome

Senior Engineer, Spectrum Management and Development EMEA
SES

Nada Abdelhafez 240

Nada Abdelhafez

Head of Spectrum & Regulatory Affairs for Middle East and Africa
Shure

Fargani Tambeayuk 240

Fargani Tambeayuk

Head of Connectivity Policy, SSA
Meta

Kamal Tamawa 240

Kamal Tamawa

Director of Public Policy, SSA
GSMA

Ivan Suarez 240

Ivan Suarez

Director, Space and Spectrum Policy
Access Partnership

Kevin Eisenhauer 240

Kevin Eisenhauer

Lead of Africa
GSOA

Mohaned Juwad 240

Mohaned Juwad

Director Spectrum Policy
Intelsat

Shiv Bakhshi 240

Shiv Bakhshi

Vice President, Industry Relations
Ericsson

Amr Ashour 256

Amr Ashour

Senior Manager, Government & Regulatory Engagement, OneWeb

Eiman-photo

Eiman Mohyeldin

Global Head of Spectrum Standardization, Nokia

Marius Engelbrecht

Marius Engelbrecht

Senior Strategy Consultant, Southern Africa Region Public Relations Department, Huawei

Nada Abdelhafez

Nada Abdelhafez

Head of Spectrum & Regulatory Affairs, MEA region, Shure (on behalf of APWPT)

25_Kamal_Tamawa

Kamal Tamawa

Director of Public Policy, SSA, GSMA

Scott_McKenzie copy

Scott McKenzie

Director, Coleago Consulting

El Hadjar Abdouramane

El Hadjar Abdouramane

Chairman, ATU Working Group on Fixed and Mobile Services for WRC-23

Abraham Oshadami

Abraham Oshadami

Head of Information Technology Department, NCC Nigeria

Fargani Tambeayuk

Fargani Tambeayuk

Head of Connectivity Policy, SSA, Meta

Basebi

Basebi Mosinyi

Vice-Chairperson ATU WG4B-Satellite Issues and Deputy Director, Spectrum Management, BOCRA

Peter Zimri

Peter Zimri

Councillor, ICASA

Agenda

You can view the agenda in your preferred time zone by selecting it from the list below.
Day 1
2023-08-03
Day 2
2023-08-04
09:00 - 09:50
Keynote Presentations
Keynote Presentations image
Minette Libom Li Likeng
Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of Cameroon
Keynote Presentations image
Kezias Mwale
Radiocommunications Coordinator, ATU
Keynote Presentations image
Ilham Ghazi
Head of the Broadcasting Services Division, Radiocommunication Bureau, ITU
Keynote Presentations image
Luc Messi Atangana
Mayor of Yaoundé
09:50 - 11:10
Session 1: Final Preparation for WRC-23 – Finalising regional positions and overcoming the remaining challenges

ATU’s final preparatory meeting for WRC-23 will take place the week after this conference, providing the final opportunity to set common regional positions for the African region across the key agenda items. Ahead of this crucial final meeting, this session will hear from key policymakers and industry leaders who are directly involved in the discussions on the challenges that they see as still remaining, their hopes and aims for WRC-23, and what in their opinion needs to be done in order to ensure that a positive outcome is delivered from the conference for the benefit of African citizens everywhere.
 

  • What common ATU positions have now been agreed on the key agenda items for WRC-23?
  • What were the key outcomes and conclusions from CPM and what perspectives and positions have emerged from other regions?
  • What challenges still remain to be overcome, and what will be the key focus of discussion at the regional preparatory meeting (APM23-4) next week?
  • What are the opinions of different stakeholder groups and sub-regional groups on the positions that have emerged? How can the African delegation now come together to ensure that the key regional objectives from WRC-23 are achieved?
  • With WRC-23 also planning to see the setting of future agenda items to be discussed at WRC-27, what should be the priorities here, and what will likely be the next ‘wave’ of bands and issues to be focussed on?
  • Session 1: Final Preparation for WRC-23 – Finalising regional positions and overcoming the remaining challenges image
    Moderator: Ahmed Boraud
    Head of Department, ARCEP Niger & Chair, ECOWAS
    Session 1: Final Preparation for WRC-23 – Finalising regional positions and overcoming the remaining challenges image
    El Hadjar Abdouramane
    Chairman, ATU Working Group on Fixed and Mobile Services for WRC-23
    Session 1: Final Preparation for WRC-23 – Finalising regional positions and overcoming the remaining challenges image
    Victor Kweka
    RF Spectrum Management Engineer, Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority
    Session 1: Final Preparation for WRC-23 – Finalising regional positions and overcoming the remaining challenges image
    Daniel Obam
    Special Advisor, Africa Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Huawei
    Session 1: Final Preparation for WRC-23 – Finalising regional positions and overcoming the remaining challenges image
    Kamal Tamawa
    Director of Public Policy, SSA, GSMA
    Session 1: Final Preparation for WRC-23 – Finalising regional positions and overcoming the remaining challenges image
    Stephane Mebaley Ekome
    Global Spectrum & Regulatory Policy, GSOA
    Session 1: Final Preparation for WRC-23 – Finalising regional positions and overcoming the remaining challenges image
    Martha Suarez
    President, DSA
    The response from other regional groups

    Key policymakers involved with the preparation for WRC-23 in other regions will listen in to the panel discussion above and give their own key takeaways and thoughts.

    The response from other regional groups image
    Karim Hassine
    Representative, ASMG
    11:10 - 11:40
    Morning Break
    11:40 - 12:45
    Session 2: The future of the 470-694 MHz band – maximising the socio-economic value for Africa

    The issue of the future use of the 470-694 MHz UHF band is seen as one of the most difficult and challenging agenda items to be discussed at WRC-23. No provisional regional position has yet been agreed by ATU members, and next week’s CPM23-4 is set to be crucial in setting the future shape of the band. With positions across the rest of region 1 split, with Europe advocating ‘no change’ and a continuation of priority for terrestrial broadcast in the band, and the Arab Region favouring a co-primary mobile allocation in the band, the final decision from Africa could be critical in the overall direction of discussions at WRC-23. Against this backdrop, this session will hear from key stakeholders on their vision on the future of the band, and discuss the best way forward to maximise value for stakeholders throughout Africa.
     

  • What is the current status of discussions on the 470-694MHz band in Africa as we head into next week’s crucial CPM23-4 meeting?
  • What positions are being seen elsewhere in region 1?
  • What are the key arguments being put forward by key industry stakeholders such as IMT, broadcast and PMSE?
  • What would be the impact for these sectors if the decision at WRC-23 goes against them?
  • What are the challenges associated with coexistence of DTT and PMSE users with mobile industry in the band?
  • To what extent could emerging new technologies and standards have the potential to help to make sharing of this kind a possibility either now or in the future?
  • Where does the balance lie between the delivery of a coordinated approach and taking account of national differences? How important is it that a harmonised decision on the future of the band is reached both across Africa and the rest of region 1?
  • Session 2: The future of the 470-694 MHz band – maximising the socio-economic value for Africa image
    Moderator: Zourmba Aboubakar
    Deputy General Manager, Telecommunications Regulatory Board, Cameroon
    Session 2: The future of the 470-694 MHz band – maximising the socio-economic value for Africa image
    Basebi J.Mosinyi
    Vice-Chairperson at ATU WG4B-Satellite Issues and Deputy Director, Spectrum Management, BOCRA
    Session 2: The future of the 470-694 MHz band – maximising the socio-economic value for Africa image
    Eiman Mohyeldin
    Global Head of Spectrum Standardization, Nokia
    Session 2: The future of the 470-694 MHz band – maximising the socio-economic value for Africa image
    Joe Frans
    AUB Expert, Broadcast Networks Europe
    Session 2: The future of the 470-694 MHz band – maximising the socio-economic value for Africa image
    Nada Abdelhafez
    Head of Spectrum & Regulatory Affairs for Middle East and Africa, Shure
    Session 2: The future of the 470-694 MHz band – maximising the socio-economic value for Africa image
    Bashir Gwandu
    Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, National Agency for Science & Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI)
    12:45 - 13:40
    Lunch
    13:40 - 14:45
    Session 3: Decision time on the upper 6GHz band – maximising the benefit of this high value spectrum

    Discussions are still continuing at pace on the future use of the upper 6GHz band and on whether mobile should be given co-primary status in the band or whether it should be made available on an unlicenced basis. A number of very different perspectives are being seen in different countries across region 1, and votes from African nations are set to play a big part in the decision on the future of the band that will be taken at WRC-23. Ahead of the crucial final regional preparatory meeting for WRC-23 which will take place next week, this session will look at the respective positions that are being taken by both the IMT and unlicenced communities on the best future use of the band, at the status across regulators and countries in the region, and at the best approach for the use of this vital spectrum to ensure that its value is maximised for the citizens of Africa.
     

  • What positions are emerging for the use of the 6GHz band in countries across Africa? How can its socio-economic benefits be best maximised across both developed and developing countries?
  • What are the positions in other parts of region 1 and globally?
  • How important is it that a harmonised approach is achieved? Given the different positions that are being seen, to what extent is it likely that this can be achieved across Africa, region 1 and globally?
  • What are the main points being made by the IMT and WiFi communities on why their position offers the best socio-economic value for the use of the band?
  • What would be the impact for the development of IMT and WiFi if the technologies are not able to access the spectrum that they hope for in the upper 6GHz band?
  • Is there a solution that would ensure that sufficient spectrum in the band is available for both WiFi and IMT users?
  • Session 3: Decision time on the upper 6GHz band – maximising the benefit of this high value spectrum image
    Moderator: Ilham Ghazi
    Head, Broadcasting Services Division, ITU
    Session 3: Decision time on the upper 6GHz band – maximising the benefit of this high value spectrum image
    Tabi Elias Mbi
    Director of Frequency Management, Telecommunications Regulatory Board, Cameroon
    Session 3: Decision time on the upper 6GHz band – maximising the benefit of this high value spectrum image
    Richard Makgothlo
    Radio Frequency Specialist, ICASA
    Session 3: Decision time on the upper 6GHz band – maximising the benefit of this high value spectrum image
    Ndukayo Zamba Leonel
    Assistant Director, Frequency Spectrum Management, National Communications Authority, South Sudan