EAC’s spectrum harmonisation agenda to accelerate digital integration

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Leaders and technical experts from nine Eastern African countries have moved to fast-track regional spectrum harmonisation, a critical step toward achieving affordable, high-quality broadband connectivity and realising the vision of a Single Digital Market for Eastern Africa.

The Joint Spectrum Management and Knowledge Exchange Workshop, held on Monday this week in Kigali, Rwanda, brought together representatives from the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the GSM Association (GSMA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with support from the World Bank under the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP).

Held under the theme “Strengthening Regional Harmonisation and Cross-Border Connectivity in Eastern Africa,” the workshop aimed to strengthen the region’s technical and policy capacity for coordinated spectrum management and regulatory convergence, as well as unlocking new opportunities for affordable connectivity, digital inclusion and investment predictability.

“Spectrum is not merely a technical asset; it is the oxygen of digital transformation. How we manage it will determine how fast Africa can connect its citizens, innovate, and grow its digital economy,” Didier Nkurikiyimfura, Director of Emerging Technologies and AI, Smart Africa Secretariat, said.

EAC-EARDIP Project Coordinator, Eng. Daniel Murenzi noted that the workshop marks a pivotal moment in the collective journey toward digital integration.

“Spectrum harmonisation is the backbone of a connected, competitive and inclusive Eastern Africa, it is how we move from fragmented national markets to a single regional digital economy,” he said.

In his keynote address, Dr Emmanuel Manasseh, Regional Director for Africa at the ITU emphasised that effective spectrum governance is not just a luxury but rather a structural enabler of Africa’s digital transformation.

“To deliver affordable connectivity, we must align policies, streamline coordination and prepare early for emerging technologies like 5G, 6G and satellite-to-device communications,” he reiterated.

Spectrum, the invisible infrastructure powering mobile networks, remains severely underutilised and fragmented in Sub-Saharan Africa, creating challenges for cross-border communication, roaming and network expansion.

On average, countries in the region have assigned just 387 MHz of spectrum compared to a global average of 574 MHz. This gap, coupled with high licensing costs, fragmented national policies and limited cross-border coordination, continues to constrain efforts to extend affordable broadband to the region’s 400 million unconnected people.

Regional harmonisation helps to align frequency allocations, licensing procedures and technical standards among countries, enabling economies of scale, interoperability and more affordable digital services.

The EAC and IGAD Secretariats are set to develop a joint regional roadmap to translate the workshop’s outcomes into concrete policy, regulatory and institutional actions.

This roadmap will guide spectrum governance, promote private sector investment and ensure that affordable, reliable connectivity reaches every corner of Eastern Africa