Spectrum harmonisation key to telecom growth

Spectrum harmonisation and light-touch regulation are critical if countries within the sub-region are to profit from the expected exponential growth in mobile subscription and broadband penetration, Shiletsi Makhofane, Head of Marketing and Strategy of Ericsson, has said.

According to an Ericsson Mobility Report June 2013, total mobile subscriptions in the world exceeded 6.4 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2013, and the figure is projected to reach 9.1 billion by 2018.

“The majority of mobile broadband devices are and will continue to be smartphones. Mobile broadband will gain a larger share of total broadband subscriptions in many markets, complementing xDSL in certain segments and replacing it in others,” the report said.

The report, which also forecast large regional differences by 2018, predicts that almost all handsets in Western Europe and North America will be smartphones, compared to 40-50 percent of handset subscriptions in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions by 2018.

“Acceleration of infrastructure rollout, incentive innovation and improving regional integration are the other key components if the country and the rest of the sub-region are to benefit from the expected growth,” Makhofane said.

Mr. Fredrik Jejdling, Ericsson’s Head of sub-Saharan Africa Region, in an interview with the B&FT, said there should be an “African agenda” on spectrum allocation so as to position the sub-region to take advantage of possibilities of the future.

“If there could be an African Telecom Union or such a body, then there could be an African harmonisation around it; an Africa agenda on the spectrum that will benefit Africa very much. Then we will get more or push to be allocated a certain number of bandwidths. Globally, we are getting a much bigger population that is likely to pick up long-term evolution (LTE) over time,” he said.

LTE, marketed as 4G LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Mr. Kweku Sakyi Addo, said: “The right decision on the spectrum is important so that we don’t lose out on the possibilities of the future.

“Government needs to take a long-term view of the opportunities, rather than a short-term view that brings money but doesn’t impact the economic fortunes of the country.”

Madam Dorothy Gordon, Director General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, speaking to the B&FT on the need for bandwidth harmonisation within the sub-region said the issue must be taken up at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“Initially in the 70s when we were coming together [ECOWAS], this wasn’t an issue, so we haven’t gotten enough recognition of this as an issue yet for sub-regional integration. So once our leadership understands how essential this harmonisation is -- in terms of bandwidth availability and even looking at some of the disparities in tariffs -- then I am confident we are really going to see e-commerce take off within the sub-region,” she said.

Ericsson currently manages 40 percent of all Africa mobile cells and 1 billion connected mobile cells in 180 countries.