As Ericsson expands its #AfricaInMotion strategy, which aims to accelerate digital inclusion and adoption across the continent, the company is urging governments to play a key role in developing strategies that support internet access and digital learning.

This is according to Ayub Osman, head of sustainability and corporate responsibility for Ericsson Middle East and Africa.

In an interview with ITWeb Africa, Osman stated governments must form productive partnerships with the private sector, particularly communication service providers and technology companies, to implement these strategies by building the necessary digital infrastructure and providing reliable school connectivity.

The Ericsson senior executive discussed the progress made by the company and its global partners in supporting the International Telecommunication Union’s GIGA initiative in Kenya.

GIGA launched in 2019 as an initiative to connect all schools all over the world and has three pillars: map, model and contract.

 .   Map the location of schools and monitor school connectivity status in real-time.

 .   Model the infrastructure, policies, regulations and investments needed to deliver school connectivity.

  .  Help governments to contract connectivity for schools.

The GIGA project has already spread across Africa, being launched simultaneously in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Benin, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria and Niger.

Now, in Kenya, Ericsson has announced it is cooperating with UNICEF and GIGA to promote Kenya’s National Broadband Strategy, which aims to connect all schools by 2030.

Osman shared insights about the initiative and its progress in Kenya, noting: “We recognise that mapping the connectivity landscape is a critical first step towards connecting every school to the internet and providing each child with access to learning opportunities.

“Through our expertise in ICT, we are helping provide an understanding of where connectivity is needed the most. We have also developed Daily Check, an app that supports the GIGA initiative through the collection, validation, analysis, monitoring and visualisation of real-time school connectivity data.

“With the engagement of international partners, this initiative has achieved noteworthy advancements. By the end of 2023, a total of 546 public schools in Kenya were connected to the internet for the first time, positively impacting over 340 000 students and educators.”

Further, he said: “For students, the internet can offer access to learning material and resources at their fingertips. It serves as a repository of knowledge that is not restricted by geography and is available to anyone with connectivity.

“Meanwhile, teachers can use the internet to access assessment tools that can help evaluate students’ performance and identify their learning needs. The internet also offers a wealth of digital resources that can assist teachers in preparing lesson plans and incorporating innovative methods in knowledge delivery.

“Finally, the internet enables policy-makers to obtain real-time information on the effectiveness of their policies.”

Moving on to the continent’s need for digital infrastructure to assist connectivity initiatives, Osman stated: “Building infrastructure to enable access to the internet and digital learning for all students is the starting point. But this access also needs to be affordable and reliable.

“Governments play a key role in developing strategies that place access to the internet and digital learning at the forefront of education policies and overcome the barriers to integration, such as Kenya’s National Broadband Strategy.

“They must also forge productive partnerships with the private sector, especially communication service providers and technology companies, to implement these strategies by building the required infrastructure and providing reliable school connectivity.”

Dr. Bashir Gwandu, former Acting Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and former EVC/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has urged African countries to unite and work together to secure 600megahertz (MHz) band spectrum allocations.

The independent telecom expert stated this at the just concluded 9th Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference 2024, held in Nairobi, Kenya on 6-7 November, organised by Forum Global on the third theme: “From WRC-23 to WRC-27- Emerging Landscapes  & Technologies and the Path Ahead.”

Dr. Gwandu who held various chairmanship positions at the both the ITU and Commonwealth including the ITU Radiocommunications Advisory Group (the RAG), The Joint Task Group, and Commonwealth ITU Group (CIG), made the call during his opening remarks on the 600MHz spectrum discussions.

While making a presentation on the session: “The shape of Post-WRC spectrum ecosystems”, he called for cooperation among African countries at the forthcoming World Radiocommunications Conference 2027 (WRC-27) to enter Footnote 5.307A, which are radio regulations used to make spectrum allocation for a country or some countries.

Dr. Gwandu who played a key role in founding the ATU (African Telecommunications Union) WRC coordination meetings had expressed disappointment that the continent’s focus on collaborative efforts was waning.

At the core of the discussions was the 600MHz (3GGP n71) band, a key frequency range that many countries worldwide are increasingly allocating for IMT to support 4G and 5G networks.  While several nations in Regions 2 and 3, as well as some in ITU Region 1, have designated this band for mobile, some African countries are not yet ready to make the switch to co-primary allocation.

Eleven African countries had sought request at the WRC-23 for primary mobile allocation of spectrum and IMT identification in the 614-694MHz band, but only Egypt was granted while countries like Rwanda, Guinea, Benin Republic, and Cameroon, blocked requests from 10 other African nations with similar aspirations.

The 10 countries that were blocked include Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya, Chad, Gambia, Sudan, Namibia, Somalia, and Tanzania.  Dr Gwandu posited that fighting for status quo to remain or ‘No Change’ in this case is akin to refusing an available front seat and fighting for a back seat.

“Therefore, colleagues, something clearly went wrong at WRC23, and we as Africans need to address it. We must work together, have positive dialogue on challenges, and optimize the use of opportunities.

“Reasonable countries have always found solutions to accommodate needs of their neighbours instead of blocking them,” he said, urging African Telecommunication Union (ATU) to remain effective by following its rules.

He said the 600MHz band issue is clear: the world is moving towards IMT in this band, with some countries ready now and others later. “Eventually, most of us will adopt it. Many region 2 and Region 3 countries have taken primary allocation to mobile in the band, and even in region 1, a number of countries have already changed the use status of this band to include either primary or secondary mobile,” he said.

Dr. Gwandu urged that those not ready not to obstruct others that are prepared to move forward. Countries develop at different rates, and the ITU Resolution 26 that requires consent before amending footnotes is intended to promote harmonization, not to delay a clear direction, or block progress, he said, adding that there is need to provide regulatory certainty to different industries.

According to him, if many countries in other regions and Africa have not taken the steps to upgrade the mobile service in the band, “then yes, we can try to convince colleagues in Africa to hold, but, this is not the case. The direction is now clear – 600MHz band will be allocated on primary basis to mobile. It is almost black and white,” he added.

“When we meet as a family, we must be honest with ourselves. Some of us who helped to initiate the ATU WRC coordination meetings are disheartened by how we, as Africans, continue to fight each other in order to win the occupancy of the back seat, whilst neglecting each other’s interests.

“When making decisions, we must consider the unique circumstances of each country, such as geographical size, population and data demand, the capital expenditure required for coverage, the dispersed nature of our rural settlements, the 50 per cent urban to rural connectivity-divide in Africa and the energy costs to power the high throughput systems in rural areas,” he added.

The telecom guru said these factors differ for each country, and thus the frequency allocation solution for a smaller country like Rwanda or Benin cannot be the same for larger nations like Nigeria or Namibia.

MTN Foundation has affirmed its leadership in innovation through CSR initiatives, receiving the “Transformational Solutions in Education & Skills Acquisition Award” at the eighth edition of the Tech Innovation Awards, which held on November 2, 2024 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya was recognized as the “Corporate Social Investment Personality of the Year”, while the MTN Foundation team was named “Foundation Team of the Year”.

The Tech Innovation Awards saw the coming together of executives, leaders and employees of various organizations in the ICT sector to celebrate businesses and personalities who have contributed to the transformation of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

In his opening remarks, convener and Chief Executive Officer of Instinct Wave, Akin Naphtal regarded the event as an avenue to celebrate achievements within Nigeria’s ICT industry and recognize the excellence and grit of people and institutions driving digital transformation.

“We’re not just here to celebrate the innovations and growth in our ICT sector, but also to acknowledge the tremendous resilience that keeps this industry at the forefront of transformation.

“We celebrate excellence, tenacity and audacious dreamers shaping our digital space and pushing the boundaries of what we never thought was possible”.

Commenting on the awards, Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya appreciated the organizers of the Tech Innovation Awards, while also affirming the foundation’s commitment to impactful causes.

“I’d like to appreciate Instinct Wave for these awards and for choosing to constantly recognize those who are notably driving innovation in the country.

“Interestingly, this is coming right ahead of MTN Foundation’s 20th anniversary. We strongly believe that everyone deserves to have a great quality of life and access to transformative opportunities.

“This belief has driven us for the past 20 years and will continue to drive our vision of transforming lives and inspiring impact where it matters”.

For two decades, MTN Foundation has brightened lives and improved communities through its diverse CSR initiatives covering areas such as education, arts and culture, music and entrepreneurship.

Through its scholarship awards for undergraduates pursuing science and ICT related courses, the foundation has equipped recipients with relevant skills to aid their success in today’s digital world.

The awards received by the MTN Foundation are a testament to its reach and impact of its CSR initiatives over the past 20 years.

Other notable recognitions at the Tech Innovation Awards were “Telecom Infrastructure Provider of the Year” and “Telecom Infrastructure Team of the Year” received by IHS Towers, as well as the award for “Technology Person of the Year” presented to Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centres, Ayotunde Coker.