Following the conclusion of the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2023, Nigeria has joined the international community in signing the Final Act WRC-23, documenting the decisions made during the conference.
The final act incorporates new and revised provisions of the Radio Regulations, an international treaty overseeing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
Representing Nigeria at the WRC-2023, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani was accompanied by the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida and the managing director of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd), Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen.
WRC-2023, a global treaty conference held every three to four years by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), addresses key agendas set by country administrations. The signed Final Act WRC-23 identifies new spectrum resources to support technological innovation, deepen global connectivity, enhance access to space-based radio resources and improve safety in various domains.
Decisions made during the conference include identifying spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), crucial for expanding broadband connectivity and developing services such as 4G, 5G and, potentially, 6G in the future. The conference also allocated new frequencies for non-geostationary fixed-satellite service Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs), offering high-speed broadband for vehicles, vessels, aircraft and trains. These satellite services prove vital during disasters when local communication infrastructure is compromised.
Provisions were incorporated to protect ship and aircraft mobile service stations in international airspace and waters from stations within national territories. Nigeria’s delegation comprised experts from the ministry, NCC, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), NigComSat Ltd, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), telecom operators and other industry practitioners.
Tijani thanked the delegation for its sacrifices and emphasised the importance of preparation for future conferences to safeguard Nigeria’s interests through capacity development and inter-agency collaboration.
Maida commended the delegation for working collaboratively, underscoring the conference’s significance for Nigeria.
In a statement by the NCC’s director of public affairs, Reuben Muoka, Tijani highlighted the positive impact of the conference’s outcomes on service quality, the digital divide in rural areas and the development and implementation of new technologies. These align with Nigeria’s objectives for expanding broadband connectivity, transitioning to 5G and preparing for future 6G technologies.
