1. Assessing the State of TV White Space Deployments in Africa
September 2018
Amoordalingum Pather
CEO - MCML

2. TVWS 1. Digital divide v/s Digital Opportunities
2. TVWS – Where Are We?
3. Situation Analysis in Africa
4. The Connectivity Challenge

3. DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES
DIGITAL DIVIDE
DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES
DIGITAL DIVIDE
4 Billion
Non – Starters
DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES
4 Billion
Frontrunners
Big Data, IoT, M2M, IoE, AI,
Robotics, Blockchain, IoV, Quantum Computing
RURAL BROADBAND !!!!!!!
to easily connect more and more
people via TVWS at affordable cost

4. In November 2002, late Kofi Annan issued a challenge to Silicon Valley to create suitable systems at prices low enough to permit deployment everywhere ....

5. 60 % of African population live Rural Areas in Africa
Most have never felt the click of a mouse and we are in 2018
1. Low Literacy
2. High Poverty Level
3. Limited Telecom infrastructure
4.Very low internet penetration
5. High cost of Internet
6. Mobile Network Operators –
reluctant to invest – No value for
Money
Average Internet penetration over the last 9 years increased from 2% to 20%

7. Google Spectrum Database
TVWS base
Station
Hospital
TVWS CPE
TVWS Consumer Premise Equipment
(CPE)
Primary & Secondary Schools
Wifi or Ethernet
Wifi or Ethernet

8. TVWS Pilot Tests in Africa – Showcases
Nigeria - University of Ilorin, first powered deployment in Africa
South Africa -Ten Cape Town schools
Tanzania- with Costech and Uhuru One; The Doloma case (2,287 people served)
Malawi - University of Malawi –City of Zomba schools, hospitals, airport…
Kenya - Mawingu, Microsoft 4K Africa/ Base stations/Start Ups etc Traditional garden with scented roses in Tambuzi Farm.
Ghana - University in Koforidua, Osu Manhean Cluster of Schools.
Botswana – Telemedicine (Town of Lobatsi)
Senegal - More than 100 MHz bandwidth after Microsoft research
Namibia – Citizens connect Schools/Ministry of Education
In partnership with Dynamic Spectrum Alliance namely:
Microsoft, Google, Spectrolink Wireless, Uhuru One, Wavetek, Costech, Tenet, Botswana Innovation, Adaptrum, Starhub, Ruckus Wireless, Strathclyde Centre etc.

9. Situational Analysis
Occupancy of terrestrial TV very low MHz bandwidth.
Propagation at 500 MHz – very attractive for TVWS application
Many Pilot tests at Community level in rural areas- very encouraging.
But, African market in Rural areas – not attractive
Low Population Density
Lack of Political will/ technical will
Low literacy/Lack of commitment / budget / expert skills.
Network operators not interested – no value for money.
No regulation framework except South Africa.
So, low penetration of Internet.
Rural to Urban migration.
Pushback from TV Broadcasters.
Too many other priorities etc.

10. TVWS - Where are we since 2009?
Digital Television Switch Over (470 – 700 MHz)
Available Bandwidth/Spectrum Holes(25 – 200 MHz)
Longer Range propagation ( ,000m – Super WIFI)
Intelligent Database(Spectrum Bridge
Microsoft/Google/ATDI …)
WSD/CR/SDR
Dynamic Spectrum Access
Opportunistic Spectrum Access
Low Capex – Low Opex
Lower latencies 66
Cable
Hi-Band Fixed Wireless
Fiber
Satellite S
TVWS
affordable
URBAN
SUBURBAN
RURAL

11. The Connectivity Challenge – Focus on Africa
1. Proper inventory/planning of Primary Users.
2. Deployment mechanism for Secondary users.
3. Geo-location Spectrum Database Approach/Software Driven Radio
4. Need strong Government and Business groups commitment.
5. Common front with harmonisation of regulation for TVWS e.g. SADC
6. Policy makers - no barriers to entry for fast deployment
Balance of interest PUs and SUs by spectrum managers to enable
knowledge sharing and socio-economic development
7. Use of a single Database service

12. The Connectivity Challenge – Focus on Africa
8. More visibility of the technology
Intensive Capacity Building in partnership with experts in the fields of
TVWS applications/DSA/SDR.
9. Powered by Solar Panels
10. Educate Regulators on consumer benefits.
Aggressive Community networking
12. Continuous engagement from national and regional authorities in
Africa including foreign assistance e.g. the Digital Spectrum
Alliance.
13. Business case for TVWS – different applications.

13. CONNECTIVITY, INTERNET EVERYWHERE
THANK YOU!