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<p>The wireless spectrum is the lifeblood of communication, and one of the most important legislative decisions in any country is deciding who gets to use it and for what purpose.</p> 
<p>One of the hottest debates in South Africa today revolves around the 6GHz spectrum, particularly its allocation for either WiFi or 5G services. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has already opened the lower unlicensed 6GHz band (5.925 – 6.425 GHz) for indoor, low-power WiFi use – a commendable step.</p> 
<p>Subsequently, in June this year, ICASA <a href="https://www.icasa.org.za/news/2023/icasa-releases-more-spectrum-for-wi-fi-services-in-the-lower-6ghz-band" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published an RFI</a> requesting submissions from all incumbent users of this band. This was a first step towards creating an Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) database that will allow spectrum sharing and co-existence between the incumbents and unlicensed users, opening the door for using this frequency band in an outdoor environment.</p> 
<p>However, the more contentious issue lies with the upper 6GHz band, which has sparked a fierce battle between proponents of unlicensed WiFi and advocates for 5G.</p> 
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  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-01-at-14.17.30.png" alt="The folly of allocating 6GHz spectrum for 5G in South Africa" class="wp-image-233083" width="646" height="641">
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   PAUL COLMER, EXCO member at Wireless Access Provider’s Association (WAPA)
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<p>Similar read: <a href="https://technext24.com/2023/04/05/south-africa-leads-5g-in-africa/"><strong>With 5 million subscriptions, South Africa leads the 5G race in Africa</strong></a></p> 
<h5 id="the-global-failure-of-5g" class="wp-block-heading">The global failure of 5G</h5> 
<p>Globally, 5G rollouts have yielded few success stories. Hyped as the technology that would revolutionise the world and everything from self-driving cars to remote surgery, the reality has fallen far short. These grand visions have proven to be little more than pipe dreams, making 5G perhaps the biggest white elephant in telecommunications history.</p> 
<p>The term “white elephant” originates from Asia, where such rare animals were seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity because they were expensive to maintain and had little practical use. Similarly, 5G has become a costly endeavour with limited tangible benefits. Ask any user of the latest Samsung or Apple smartphones how 5G has changed their lives, and you’re likely to be met with blank expressions.</p> 
<p>In stark contrast, WiFi has been a monumental success. Yet, it has been starved of spectrum, making ICASA’s decision to open the lower 6GHz band a welcome relief. However, the real battle is over the upper 6GHz band. Should it be allocated to the already faltering 5G networks, or the consistently successful WiFi?</p> 
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  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-1024x768.jpg" alt="Despite All The Hype Around 5G, Nigerian Telcos Are In Hurry For Its Roll Out" class="wp-image-18608" srcset="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-300x225.jpg 300w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-768x576.jpg 768w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-640x480.jpg 640w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-380x285.jpg 380w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-550x413.jpg 550w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-800x600.jpg 800w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-1160x870.jpg 1160w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-600x450.jpg 600w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-760x570.jpg 760w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018-1100x825.jpg 1100w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5G-Snapdragon-Tech-Summit-2018.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">
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<h5 id="the-battle-for-the-upper-6ghz-band" class="wp-block-heading">The battle for the upper 6GHz band</h5> 
<p>The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) held in November 2023 in Dubai highlighted this debate. While the Americas and South Korea have already allocated the entire 6GHz band to unlicensed WiFi, the WRC ruled that the upper band should be identified as IMT spectrum (for 5G) in Region 1, which includes Europe, Africa, and parts of the Middle East.</p> 
<p>This decision has been met with significant resistance, particularly in Africa and Europe, where the war over the spectrum continues. What made the WRC think that our region only needs half as much WiFi as the Americas?</p> 
<p>One of the biggest reasons for this pushback is that the 6GHz band already has incumbent users. Unlicensed WiFi can coexist with these users through an AFC database, a system successfully implemented in the Americas. However, this is not feasible for mobile 5G services due to the higher power levels required and the constant movement of users.</p> 
<p>5G would require priority access to give a reasonable class of service while generating interference making coexistence with incumbents impossible.</p> 
<p>Secondly, while the midband spectrum (1-6GHz) is considered ideal for 5G, even within this range, the highest frequency currently in use in South Africa is 3.5GHz. The higher the frequency, the lower the range and the poorer the building penetration. Allocating the upper 6GHz band to 5G would exacerbate these issues, making it dysfunctional for all intents and purposes.</p> 
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="890" height="530" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/5G-technology.jpeg" alt="Global 5G adoption to hit 17% in 2023, adding $1 trillion to global economy by 2030" class="wp-image-196297">
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<p>Third, there are no IMT chipsets or equipment available for 6GHz, and manufacturing it at scale would be costly and time-consuming. Moreover, there is no incentive to produce this equipment for regions like the Americas and South Korea, where the entire band is designated for unlicensed WiFi.</p> 
<p>Yet it’s manufacturers of this equipment that stand to be the biggest winners from the flawed WRC decision.</p> 
<p>Read also: <a href="https://technext24.com/2023/07/13/nigerian-telcos-wont-shutting-down-2g-3g/"><strong>Why Nigerian telcos won’t be shutting down 2G and 3G anytime soon despite the emergence of 4G and 5G</strong></a></p> 
<h5 id="a-win-win-solution" class="wp-block-heading">A win-win solution</h5> 
<p>It stands to reason that the WRC’s decision to allocate the upper 6GHz band to cellular operators in Africa was based on flawed research and will ultimately benefit no one. The push for this allocation is driven by equipment manufacturers eager to sell gear, rather than the actual needs of network carriers or consumers.</p> 
<p>But there is a better solution that would benefit everyone if the decision was reversed and the upper 6GHz band was allocated for unlicensed WiFi use, and it already exists.</p> 
<p>WiFi-cellular Handover allows for seamless switching between WiFi and cellular networks without user intervention, using Hotspot 2.0 and Passpoint for automatic authentication. It has been successfully implemented globally, where users have benefitted from improved connectivity for years.</p> 
<p>Not only does this technology improve call quality and offer coverage in hard-to-reach areas, but it also frees up licensed spectrum for cellular networks. In South Africa, despite setbacks like the bankruptcy of the Vast public WiFi network, which was testing this technology, WiFi Handover presents a compelling reason to rethink spectrum allocation.</p> 
<p>Thus, the debate over the 6GHz spectrum is far from over. For the sake of better connectivity and more efficient use of resources, it is crucial to reconsider the allocation of the upper 6GHz band and prioritise unlicensed WiFi, a proven and necessary technology for the future, rather than the failed 5G experiment.</p> 
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  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-1024x576.jpg" alt="Nigeria will be a Global Smartphone Super-Power by 2025. Kenya is Getting Its Broadband Game Right!" class="wp-image-7869" srcset="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-300x169.jpg 300w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-768x432.jpg 768w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-380x214.jpg 380w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-550x310.jpg 550w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-800x450.jpg 800w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-760x428.jpg 760w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-600x338.jpg 600w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-640x360.jpg 640w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169-360x202.jpg 360w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/160112175043-kenya-tech-startup-internet-innovation-brck-super-169.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">
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<h5 id="about-wapa" class="wp-block-heading">About WAPA</h5> 
<p><a href="https://wapa.org.za/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WAPA</a>, established in 2006, is a non-profit trade association acting as a collective voice for the wireless industry. WAPA’s primary objective is to promote the growth of the wireless industry by facilitating self-regulation, promoting best practices, and educating both members and the market about new wireless technologies and business models.</p> 
<p>WAPA offers its members regulatory advice, technical training, a code of conduct, a forum for knowledge-sharing and business-enablement opportunities.</p> 
<p>WAPA is positioned to be an interface between the government regulator (ICASA), network operators, service providers, and consumers. WAPA regularly makes submissions and presentations to the government on regulations affecting the wireless industry. WAPA is tirelessly lobbying for more progressive and efficient spectrum management in South Africa and is focusing on the possibilities of dynamic unlicensed spectrum for interference-free access.</p>

The folly of allocating 6GHz spectrum for 5G in South Africa

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