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Vacant TV Spectrum Targeted for Affordable Rural Wi-Fi

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Parts of the wireless spectrum that have been abandoned or left unused by television (TV) broadcasters as they increasingly move to digital transmission may provide a faster and cheaper way to beam the Internet to remote rural areas and roll out a new generation of ‘super Wi-Fi’ in cities.

Technology giants such as Microsoft and Google are pushing for governments around the world to open up this ‘white space’, hoping that it will boost innovation in Internet delivery, according to William Webb, the chief technology officer at one such start-up offering the necessary technology, Neul, in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

A recent example is a pilot initiative in Kenya that aims to boost Internet access in rural areas.

The Mawingu project ? named after the Swahili word for cloud ? is part of an initiative by Microsoft and a global telecommunications provider, Indigo Telecom, designed to provide affordable, high-speed wireless Internet access using former TV frequencies, old-fashioned antennas and solar-powered base stations.

Affordable rural coverage
Peter Henderson, Indigo Telecom’s chairman, told SciDev.Net that Kenya will be the first African country to benefit from the Wi-Fi initiative, which aims to deliver affordable coverage to its 30 million rural inhabitants.

“For example, a person will pay US$1.20 a week to access the Internet, thus allowing rural Kenyans to maximise their collective learning potential in a sustainable, socially responsible manner,” he says.

As part of the project, smart phones and computers with Microsoft programmes will also be donated by Microsoft and non-governmental to schools, hospitals and other social centers and Indigo Telecom will train and equip field personnel and organise workshops to help roll it out to the communities.

Shem Ochuodho, a Kenyan information and communications technology expert who is currently advising the South Sudanese government, said: “Reusing released frequencies as a national resource where justified is a commendable feat”.

But he says that the Kenyan government and regulatory authority the Communications Commission of Kenya, need to come up with a comprehensive plan to reassign unused frequencies.

If successful, Ochuodho explains, the project will benefit smartphone users including tourists who may want to access broadband in areas still not yet served by mobile broadband.

Webb said: “TV white space has been talked about for about a decade now. And there have been many people suggesting many different kinds of applications for it.”

The main uses suggested are extending rural internet access and setting up city-wide wireless networks — wireless signals sent through these frequency bands would go much further than existing wifi, potentially covering a whole city.

The concept of using this part of the spectrum has moved from discussion at US universities and think-tanks to big companies, which have been lobbying around the world for national regulators to open it up, he says.

Cheaper system
The key advantage is that the TV spectrum tends to be at lower frequencies than other existing available frequencies and these travel further than those used for conventional Wi-Fi or cellular mobile phone networks, meaning that fewer base stations are needed.

“That just helps with the economics,” Webb says. To provide Wi-Fi to rural areas requires a base station to send out signals and some kind of radio device in each home, he says.

“Using TV white space is not a paradigm shift; it just improves the economics a bit compared with other systems, [but] maybe that improvement is enough to tip the balance in a number of different areas,” Webb says.

Instead of the frequencies between 400 and 800 megahertz being reserved for TV broadcasters that pay a lot of money for exclusive use, companies are pushing for them to be unlicensed, he says. Examples of unlicensed frequencies are the WiFi and Bluetooth; they are free but you have to share them with other users.

TV white space is “the biggest game in town at the moment in the unlicensed area”, Webb says, and some companies believe this is where a lot of innovation could be unleashed.

Some governments, such as the United States, have already opened up their white space, with others, such as Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom, considering doing so, he said.

“There’s a lot of interest in the Asia-Pacific region — Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand — those kinds of countries have all agreed to trials,” Webb said.

Spread of ideas
Access to white space may follow what happened with mobile phone frequencies, he says, which started off in a few European countries and rapidly spread around the world as other regulators saw what was happening.

Webb estimated that, by 2016, the vast majority of countries will allow some form of access to white space frequencies to Internet providers.

White space may also benefit urban Internet users by offering an alternative to 3G and 4G mobile broadband networks.

Big Internet companies are likely to “be looking to see if they can have broadband systems for cities that can compete with or be an alternative to the 3G and 4G systems as to some degree Wi-Fi already is”, Webb says.

“If you can find a Wi-Fi signal in a coffee shop, you’ll tend to use that rather than 3G or 4G,” he says. White space may enable that Wi-Fi to be expanded to cover entire cities.

The main barrier to opening up white space is concern about interference with TV signals and, given that there is no immediate benefit to broadcasters, they are “naturally going to be very cautious and inclined to oppose”, he said.


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What Adekunle Gold’s Support Means for ‘The Gathering on 100

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Popular Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold has lent his support to the growing youth-driven movement behind The Gathering on 100, further amplifying conversations around what is fast becoming one of the most talked-about upcoming experiences among young Nigerians.

What Adekunle Gold’s Support Means for ‘The Gathering on 100

Adekunle Gold

Known for his music and his strong connection with youth culture and evolving creative expression, Adekunle Gold’s involvement signals a deeper alignment between the event and the kind of audience it is attracting, a generation that is bold, expressive, and constantly redefining what community looks like.

While details of his involvement remain understated, his visible support adds a new layer of support and cultural relevance to the movement. In a landscape where attention is currency, endorsements from artists of his stature often act as a signal, drawing more eyes, more curiosity, and ultimately, more participation, but beyond visibility, the significance lies in what it represents.

The new father has, over the years, built a reputation for embracing creativity in its many forms, from music to visual storytelling, fashion, and digital engagement. His brand has consistently resonated with young Nigerians navigating similar spaces of self-expression and identity.

From interactive experiences like live music sessions and open performance moments to fashion runways and content creation spaces, the event is designed to blur the lines between audience and participant. It invites attendees to move beyond observation and become part of the moment.

This is a concept that closely mirrors the kind of cultural shift Adekunle Gold has been part of, one where boundaries between creator and consumer continue to dissolve.

His support also reflects a broader trend within Nigeria’s entertainment industry, where artists are increasingly engaging with youth-led initiatives that go beyond traditional performances. Rather than simply appearing on stage, they are aligning with movements that foster community, creativity, and shared experience.

For fans and attendees, this adds another dimension to what The Gathering on 100 represents.

As registrations increase and conversations expand across social platforms, the movement is gradually taking shape through the collective interest of those drawn to it.

Head to gathering.com to register.


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INEC Warns Broadcasters against Misinformation ahead of 2027 Polls

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Prof. Joash Amupitan, chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged broadcast organisations in Nigeria to exercise greater responsibility in the dissemination of information as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Warns Broadcasters against Misinformation ahead of 2027 Polls

Amupitan made the call on Wednesday, while addressing participants at the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), where he highlighted the growing influence of the media in shaping electoral processes.

He noted that the information environment has become increasingly significant in modern elections, warning that the spread of false or misleading information through broadcast channels could undermine public confidence in the electoral system.

According to the INEC chairman, media organisations must ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those relating to  political broadcasting. Politics

He explained that the law requires equitable access to broadcast platforms for all registered political parties, stressing that fairness in media coverage is essential to maintaining a level playing field during elections.

“With 22 registered political parties, fairness in airtime allocation and coverage is a legal obligation,” Amupitan said.

The INEC chairman also cautioned broadcasters against airing content that contains abusive, inflammatory, or divisive language capable of inciting ethnic, religious, or sectional tensions.

Such broadcasts, he said, could threaten national unity and disrupt the electoral process if not properly managed.

Amupitan further reminded media organisations about the 24-hour cooling-off period mandated by law before election day, during which all political campaigns and advertisements must cease.

He explained that the measure is intended to provide voters with time to reflect on their choices without being influenced by last-minute campaign messaging.

While acknowledging the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression, Amupitan emphasised that the right must be exercised within the limits of the law.

He noted that the airwaves are a public resource and must therefore be used responsibly to ensure fairness, balance, and equal access for all political actors.

The INEC chairman also pointed to the collaborative roles of INEC and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in regulating political broadcasting, although he acknowledged that certain challenges persist.

These challenges, he said, include regulatory overlaps, gaps in enforcement, and the increasing convergence of traditional broadcast media with digital platforms, which has made monitoring political communication more complex.

Amupitan also expressed concern over perceived incumbency advantages in state-owned broadcast stations and the growing commercialisation of political airtime, warning that these practices could disadvantage smaller political parties. Politics

To address these concerns, he called for stronger collaboration between regulatory agencies, clearer guidelines on equal access to media platforms, and improved systems for fact-checking and verification.

He also advocated increased transparency in political advertising, including the disclosure of sponsorship and pricing structures.

Amupitan urged broadcasters to prioritise accuracy and professionalism in their operations, encouraging them to verify information before dissemination and play an active role in combating fake news.

He also called on the media to contribute to voter education and civic mobilisation, noting that public participation is vital to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.

Reaffirming the commission’s commitment to transparency, the INEC chairman advised media organisations to rely on official INEC communication channels for verified electoral information.

He added that the credibility of the 2027 general elections would depend not only on electoral logistics and technology but also on the integrity of the country’s information environment.


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Multichoice Bleeds Customers in South Africa, Loses 580,000 Subscribers

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Rising cost of living, currency depreciation, and competition from streaming services have all conspired to see MultiChoice lose 589,000 South African subscribers in its latest financial year.

Multichoice Bleeds Customers in South Africa, Loses 580,000 Subscribers

The decline is across premium, mid-market and mass segments of its operation.

After completing its acquisition of MultiChoice, Canal+ has moved to stabilise the business.

MultiChoice’s new leadership under David Mignot, CEO,  hopes to “stop the bleeding and get back to growth”.

The new leadership has scrapped DStv’s annual price increase and decided to shut down Showmax, the in-house streaming platform that struggled to compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Canal+execs have described Showmax as unsuccessful, noting that the difficult transition to online streaming, combined with currency devaluation in Nigeria and power cuts, had hurt MultiChoice’s profitability.

MultiChoice ended 2025 with 14.4 million subscribers across Africa, down from 14.9 million a year earlier, while revenue declined 6 percent to 2.4 billion euros.

 


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