Page 32 - EngineerIT June 2022

INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS AND INNOVATION

WAPA encourages ICASA to release

1,200 GHz of Wi-Fi 6E spectrum

outh Africa could benefit by up to
nearly $58 billion over the next 10
Syears by enabling 1,200 license-
exempt megahertz in the 6 GHz band, Manufacturing Indaba
helping the country to bridge the digital
divide, as well as improve access to 21 and 22 June 2022
remote education, work, and commerce. Sandton Convention Centre
But ICASA has so far failed to release it. https://manufacturingindaba.co.za/
The total $57.76 billion consists
of $34.81 billion in GDP contribution,
$13.32 in producer surplus, to South
African businesses, and $9.63 billion in Cybersecurity in the 5G
consumer surplus. Paul Colmer
Wireless Access Providers Association and AI Era Summit
(WAPA) collaborated with Dynamic be so enormously beneficial across 22-23 June 2022
Spectrum Alliance (DSA) in South Africa the spectrum of society. Additionally, Rosebank Johannesburg.
over several months and are excited with newer equipment and methods of
the data that led to their findings. Three using it are more spectrally efficient To download the conference
further studies were simultaneously than ever before, which would extend brochure: https://mogorosicomms.
conducted by DSA and its partners for the usefulness of the bandwidth even co.za/upcoming-events/
Nigeria, Kenya and Indonesia, all with further.
similar findings. The DSA is working with The Wi-Fi 6E band is broken into
the Digital Access Programme in the two main portions. The lower band
UK to share its spectrum expertise. The encompasses 5,925 MHz to 6,425 MHz AMSATSA Space
study in South Africa and elsewhere was and the upper band encompasses 6,425
to assess the service quality, coverage MHz up to 7,125 MHz. The DSA has urged Symposium 2022
and affordability impact of different governments to provide unlicensed Saturday 23 July 2022
applications for the unlicensed use of the access to the lower band and the 700
6 GHz band. MHz of the upper band. Midrand/Virtual
The DSA’s president, Martha Suarez, Wi-Fi 6E is WiFi6 extended. It www.amsatsa.org.za
said, “It will also play a crucial role provides numerous 160 MHz channels
in bridging the digital divide in these and provides the fastest Wi-Fi yet
countries, enabling improved access to because it delivers multi-gigabit,
remote education, work and commerce. low latency connections essential to Electra Mining Africa
Wi-Fi needs greater spectrum access in supporting next generation services. 5 – 9 September 2022
the 6 GHz band to effectively support the Colmer says this will have a more positive
modern digital ecosystem.” effect than just making new spectrum Johannesburg ExpoCentre
“Opening up 1,2 GHz of unlicensed available.
spectrum would be phenomenal “The current Wi-Fi 5 spectrum
compared to the spectrum we have is heavily congested because many
available in South Africa right now, devices are vying for the same band of Africa Automation
even after the recent high demand IMT frequency. The end result is that it causes Technology Fair 2023
spectrum auction of 306 MHz,” says Paul interference and that limits effective 9 – 11 May 2023
Colmer, executive at WAPA. “To put that ranges. New spectrum offloads some of
in perspective, Wisps have been using that traffic so not only is it not interfering Johannesburg Expo Centre
the same unlicenced sub-6 GHz point- by using a different frequency band, (NASREC)
to-multipoint spectrum since the IECNS there is less congestion on the old band,” Africa Automation Fair
licences were granted in 2009.” he says. “That makes it more reliable,
That’s why the prospect of bandwidth faster, more effective and offers a bigger (africaautomationtechnologyfair.com)
in the Wi-Fi 6E band of 6 GHz would playing field for all.”

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