ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AMENDMENT BILL
Spectrum alliance backs change in licensing model to boost rural reach
A significant amount of spectrum, or radio waves, in rural areas could be unlocked by amending licensing models, according to Kalpak Gude, the president of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance. Doing so would allow cellphone network operators to reach more consumers in non-urban areas, where connectivity remains relatively poor. The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services has published a bill proposing that cellphone network operators share resources. The Electronic Communications Amendment Bill, which was published in November, recommends the establishment of a wholesale open access network, which would house the sought-after bands of spectrum that cellphone network operators want access to. The department argues that the network will increase competition and speed up the provision of connectivity, partly because it will prevent the duplication of infrastructure. MTN and other operators that are disappointed with the bill argue that allocating spectrum through auctions or oth...
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