Icasa spectrum auctions slated for April 2019
Network operators bemoan the lack of radio frequencies, saying it has hindered their ability to roll out services
SA’s communication regulator plans to auction batches of radio frequencies for 4G services by April 2019 and simultaneously establish a wholesale open-access network (Woan) aimed at lowering the cost of data. The Woan will be a new entity that will sell connectivity to service providers. Network operators have said for years that their limited access to radio waves, or spectrum, is hindering their ability to roll out services and reduce the cost to communicate. New spectrum allocations were halted because the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services disagreed with the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) on allocation methods. But in September, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government wanted to accelerate the licensing of spectrum in the 2.6GHz, 700MHz and 800MHz bands “to hasten the growth of mobile communications”. Icasa councillor Paris Mashile said the wholesale network would probably be required to achieve national coverage within five years. “It’...
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