The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) has gazetted its draft Next Generation Radio Frequency Spectrum Policy for public comment, which, in a first, has been developed in consultation with various industry stakeholders prior to publication.

Gazetted on September 8, following Cabinet approval on August 31, the policy is now open for 30 working days for more stakeholder input into the policy that aims to guide the use of the finite resource that is vital to the growth of South Africa’s digital economy and communication infrastructure.

The Spectrum Policy, used to coordinate national spectrum management approaches to support the rollout of communications networks for national socioeconomic development, seeks to use the spectrum to drive broad and inclusive economic participation and development for all.

“It is a foregone conclusion that data has become a new basic utility, at the same level as water and electricity. It has become the enabler of innovation and wealth creation for any country. It is in this context that we assist with reviewing all policy instruments to drive down the cost to communicate,” says Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

“For South Africa to realise its objectives of a digital everything, such as digital economy, digital citizenry and others, we need to ensure that citizens can afford to have access to data, which will allow them access to the digital infrastructure platforms, hence our commitment to drive down the high cost to communicate.”

The availability of spectrum will lead to the reduction of the cost of communications.

Currently, South Africa is faced with a shortage and limitation on availability of spectrum, and to mitigate network capacity constraints, telecommunications companies have to deploy and densify the networks.

“This is a capital-intensive exercise and the ripple effect of this is passed through or suffered by citizens and consumers through high data costs,” she explains, noting that the connectivity divide continues, resulting in perpetual exclusion of rural, remote and underserved communities in the country.

“By making spectrum available, it will enable the telecommunications sector to build resilient networks in all geographic locations of our country. This can only happen if we have spectrum policy which permits or supports flexibility and timely release of spectrum for use.”

The new policy supports the spectrum allocation and licensing for fixed mobile; broadcasting; aeronautical and maritime; research and development; community access; and other vertical industries and sectors, such manufacturing, mining, agriculture, health and education, besides others.

The spectrum policy further recognises the provision of spectrum for government services, such as education, public protection and disaster relief services, safety services and state emergency interventions in response to disasters.

“It also supports the introduction of spectrum for the State digital infrastructure company, which will aid in bridging the connectivity divide and to end the digital divide through facilitating small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) participation in the sector,” says Ntshavheni.

“The current spectrum regime of South Africa continues to exclude SMEs and new entrants in the data market in favour of a few market players. Through this policy, we aim to adopt spectrum management approaches that promote SME participation and emergence of new entrants to the information and communication technology sector.”

Meanwhile, the draft policy supports the deployment and licensing of alternative infrastructure networks, such as WiFi and community networks as part of extending access to spectrum, as well as facilitating the efficient use of spectrum to benefit from the adoption of the latest and most advanced technologies, such as fifth-generation (5G).

In line with this, the policy tables a timeline to start the phased shutting down of older generation technologies, such as second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) networks to promote optimum spectrum occupancy and effective use of high demand spectrum.

“The adoption of more advanced technologies for economic growth must be matched by a deliberate programme to retire old technologies to ensure more spectrum is made available for the country to achieve our objective of offering all South Africans high speed broadband,” she explains.

Ntshavheni, after consultation with the regulator and industry, will issue a policy direction for the shutdown of old generation and inefficient networks, however, the draft policy proposes that the licensing of 2G devices be prohibited by June 30, 2023, while new connections or activations of 2G devices on networks are to be prohibited from December 31, 2023.

The shutdown of 2G services and the 2G network is proposed for March 31, 2024, and June 30, 2024, respectively.

Similarly, the policy suggests the prohibition of the licensing of 3G devices by March 31, 2024, and the prohibition of connections or activation of 3G on networks by September 30, 2024, with the shutdown of 3G services on December 31, 2024, and the shutdown of the 3G network on March 30, 2025.

In addition, the policy supports the release of a deployment roadmap for fourth-generation and 5G technologies, which will be finalised in consultation with the regulator and the mobile network operators by December 31, 2022.