By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Rwandan President Paul
Kagame has highlighted coordinated African action to protect the continent’s
access to critical satellite spectrum and orbital resources, citing the
recovery of satellite resources by 31 African countries as an example of what
collective action can achieve.
Kagame made the remarks at
the International Space Summit in Paris, France, which brought together world
leaders, policymakers and industry experts, including French President Emmanuel
Macron.
He said the rapid expansion
of satellite constellations is intensifying competition for spectrum and
orbital resources and warned that developing countries risk losing access if
they do not coordinate their efforts.
Kagame said Rwanda, together
with other African partners, supported efforts by the African
Telecommunications Union (ATU) to recover several orbital slots for the
continent.
“This experience
demonstrates how coordinated African action can protect our interests and
reinforce our participation in this sector,” Kagame said.
The ATU said the achievement
remains one of its important contributions to Africa’s space sector, with
African countries working together to recover and protect critical orbital and
spectrum resources.
According to the ATU, 31
African countries recovered satellite resources valued at billions of US
dollars through a process established by the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) to help countries recover resources at risk of being lost.
The process was formalised
through ITU Resolution 559 and involved coordinated efforts among national
administrations, the ATU and the ITU.
The recovery of the
resources provides African countries with greater access to orbital and
spectrum assets needed to support satellite communications, connectivity and
other space-based services.
