Access to affordable and reliable internet remains a significant challenge for underserved populations, particularly in rural Kenya. While traditional beliefs hold that mid-band spectrum is scarce, recent studies challenge this notion by exploring innovative approaches to spectrum utilization.

In this technical session, Leonard Mabele (Researcher, AFRALTI) will delve into the evolving landscape of mid-band spectrum use—focusing on how Non-Public Networks (NPNs) can unlock new opportunities for rural broadband deployment. Drawing on local findings from TV White Spaces and Wi-Fi 6E studies, and global initiatives around the 3.3 GHz and C-band (3.8–4.2 GHz), the talk will examine how secondary access to spectrum can enable the rollout of Private LTE and 5G networks in underserved areas.

Attendees will gain insights into:

• The "use it or share it" regulatory approach;

• The technical and economic limitations of TV White Spaces and Wi-Fi 6E in rural contexts;

• The role of NPNs in bridging the urban–rural digital divide;

• Implementation possibilities using mid-band spectrum in Kenya and beyond.

This session is ideal for researchers, regulators, telecom professionals, and students interested in wireless access innovation and spectrum policy.

Biography:

Summary Bio: Leonard Mabele

Email: lmabele@afralti.org
Innovation | Wireless Networks | Spectrum Sharing | Digital Access
LinkedIn: Mabele

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0238-4672

Leonard Mabele is a seasoned technology leader on various digital access projects in Kenya
and Africa. He presently serves as the Lead Researcher at the African Advanced Level
Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) looking at the emerging Wireless network
technologies. Leonard was previously the Manager of the Wireless Networks and Internet of
Things (IoT) Research Group at the iLabAfrica Research Centre of Strathmore University
where he led the setup of the Engineering Makerspace and the Internet of Things (IoT) Lab.
Between 2023-2024, Leonard led the analysis studies of Non-Public Networks (NPNs) which
focused on assessing the opportunities of deploying private LTE and 5G networks in the
midband RF spectrum bands (including the C-band). Between 2021-2022, Leonard led the
ITU-funded Research competition on Connect2Recover under the topic “Rebuilding Digital
Inclusion for Rural Kenya from the Covid-19 pandemic,” that saw the lighting of dark fibre in
two polytechnics in Western Kenya and installation of ICT Hubs.
In 2019-2021, Leonard was the co-lead of the research that led to the development of the
regulatory framework for TV White Spaces (TVWS) that was ratified in Kenya in May 2021.
He subsequently led technical coexistence studies in the 6 GHz band (5925-7125 MHz) for
RLANs and the incumbents- FS/FSS). Prior to this, he had led the Gap Analysis study on the
Opportunistic access of various RF bands.
In 2017, working in conjunction with the lead team from the University of Strathclyde,
Scotland, UK, with partner institutions in Zambia, Malawi and Ghana, he represented Kenya
on an Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) project dubbed
“Enabling Affordable Internet Access with Dynamic Spectrum Management and Software
Defined Radio” which assessed the opportunistic use of the 470-694 MHz UHF spectrum for
broadband access.
Leonard holds a B.Eng degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and an MSc. In
Telecommunications and Innovation. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Computer Science
under the topic “Implementation of a Low-Cost Cognitive Radio for Dynamic Spectrum
Access (DSA) in the Sub-1 GHz band.”