https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Cwele, Icasa settle spectrum litigation

26th September 2018

By: Simone Liedtke

Creamer Media Social Media Editor & Senior Writer

     

Font size: - +

Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Dr Siyabonga Cwele and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) council have agreed to settle the court matter involving Icasa’s July 2016 invitation to apply (ITA) for the allocation of high-demand spectrum.

In terms of the settlement agreement, Icasa will withdraw the ITA and the Minister will also withdraw his legal challenge against the ITA.

This settlement agreement is in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call, last week, to “initiate the process for the allocation of high-demand radio spectrum to enable licensing”.

The agreement is a product of consultations between the Minister, the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and Icasa. As a result of the settlement, the Minister started consultations with Icasa on a Draft Policy Direction for the licensing of high-demand spectrum and intends issuing the Draft Policy Direction for public comment.

This Policy Direction will be issued in terms of the provisions of the Electronic Communications Act (ECA).

The Minister intends to direct Icasa to issue an ITA, accept and consider applications for an electronic communications network service licence and radio frequency spectrum licence to provide wholesale open access, while ensuring its sustainability and viability, taking into account the outcomes of the study conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Moreover, the Minister intends to direct Icasa to issue an ITA, accept and consider applications for electronic communications network service (ECNS) licences and radio frequency spectrum licences for unassigned high-demand spectrum not reserved for assignment to the ECNS licence holders that provide wholesale open access.

At the end of the public consultation process, and after considering the final policy and policy directions issued by the Minister, Icasa will start the licensing process for the assignment of high-demand spectrum.

The processes and procedures are in keeping with the provisions of the ECA, which will govern and continue to apply to the process of licensing high demand spectrum.

“We are determined to move with speed to transform the sector to enable a greater participation of black women, the youth, people with disabilities [as well as] small, medium-sized and micro enterprises,” the Minister said.

“We shall continue to consult with all stakeholders to ensure that we roll out modern telecommunications infrastructure and services at affordable costs to all citizens of our country. South Africa is open for investment in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.

“Accordingly, the settlement agreement and the subsequent Policy Direction will contribute to improving investor confidence,” he added.

Icasa chairperson Rubben Mohlaloga echoed the Minister’s comments and committed to ensuring that the authority is always ready to execute its mandate of promoting competition and facilitating transformation in the ICT sector.

“The authority is indeed pleased that the impasse over the licensing of high-demand spectrum has finally been resolved. It is our concerted view that the settlement of the 2016 litigation and pending consultation process on the Policy Direction provides much needed certainty for the sector to thrive,” he elaborated, noting that the authority would ensure that it executes its mandate in a manner that promotes competition, facilitates transformation of the sector and provides a regulatory environment that encourages investment in the sector.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Stewarts & Lloyds
Stewarts & Lloyds

Stewarts & Lloyds today supplies steel and tube, pipe and fittings, valves, pumps, irrigation, fencing, profiling and roofing products. The cash...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.214 0.27s - 174pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now