Eastern Africa steps up drive for Spectrum Harmonisation to accelerate digital integration
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 22nd October, 2025: Leaders and technical experts from nine Eastern African countries have united 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 20th October, 2025 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.
Speaking during the workshop, Mr. Didier Nkurikiyimfura, Director of Emerging Technologies and AI, Smart Africa Secretariat, said, “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.” Adding that, harmonised spectrum policies were key to that future.
In his remarks, EAC-EARDIP Project Coordinator, Eng. Daniel Murenzi noted the workshop marked 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.
“EARDIP is translating regional aspirations into tangible action,” said Dr. Daniel Deng Malok, IGAD-EARDIP Telecommunications Advisor. “By bringing together our institutions, regulators and global partners, we are laying the foundation for a harmonised spectrum architecture that will power Africa’s digital future,” said Dr. Deng-Malok.
In his keynote address, Dr. Emmanuel Manasseh, Regional Director for Africa at the ITU emphasised, “Effective spectrum governance is not a luxury; it is 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 workshop underscored the urgency of aligning national and regional frameworks to facilitate seamless cross-border connectivity. Participants reached consensus on several strategic actions to be championed by EAC and IGAD under EARDIP, including: developing evidence-based regional guidelines on spectrum duration and renewal; establishing a unified regional valuation framework to promote transparent and consistent spectrum pricing and adopting hybrid assignment models balancing fiscal responsibility with universal service goals.
Further, the workshop called for accelerating regional adoption of the Harmonised Calculation Method for Africa (HCM4A) for cross-border interference management; preparing coordinated positions on emerging technologies; and integrating green spectrum practices to reduce the energy footprint of 5G networks through infrastructure sharing and sustainability-focused policies.
The workshop brought together high-level delegates from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, alongside technical experts from Smart Africa and East African Communications Organisation (EACO).
The workshop also served as an ice-breaker to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa 2025, where the outcomes from the workshop will inform broader continental dialogue on spectrum management and policy innovation.
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.
The Joint Spectrum Management and Knowledge Exchange Workshop was organised under the World Bank–funded Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), jointly implemented by the EAC and IGAD in collaboration with partners including the GSMA, EACO and the ITU.
Through EARDIP, regional institutions are receiving targeted technical assistance to strengthen spectrum governance, harmonise regulatory frameworks and build institutional capacity. The initiative is expected to enhance cross-border connectivity, lower broadband costs and accelerate progress toward a Single Digital Market in Eastern Africa.
Notes to Editors
About Spectrum and Telecommunications
Spectrum refers to the range of invisible radio frequencies used to transmit data wirelessly, from mobile phone signals and Wi-Fi to satellite communications and broadcasting. Efficient management of spectrum is vital for expanding broadband access, reducing connectivity costs and ensuring that technologies such as 4G, 5G and emerging 6G networks can operate seamlessly across borders.
For more information, please contact:
Aileen Mallya
Communications Expert
Eastern African Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP)
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 754 266564
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.eac.int/eardip
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight (8) Partner States, comprising the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Federal Republic of Somalia was admitted into the EAC bloc by the Summit of EAC Heads of State on 24th November, 2023 and became a full member on 4th March, 2024.
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