Telcos to lose access to temporary spectrum by November
The temporary spectrum assigned by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to enable South Africa’s telecommunications companies to handle the surge in demand for connectivity during the country’s Covid-19-linked State of Disaster has not been renewed.
Licensees have until November 30, 2021, to return the spectrum.
Icasa issued emergency spectrum on an initial three-month temporary basis during April 2020, extending it twice as South Africa’s intermittent lockdowns continued during 2020 and 2021.
“The authority has, inter alia, taken account of the current environment in relation to the number of infections, the gradual reopening of the economy and the steady progress in the vaccination programme,” Icasa chairperson Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng said in a statement.
“The authority’s interventions with regards to the release of the temporary radio frequency spectrum have indeed contributed immensely to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensuring that South Africans were, and continue to be, able to communicate during these unprecedented times. However, the authority cannot allow the temporary spectrum assignment to assume a state of permanence.”
Icasa is mindful of the need to focus on the permanent licensing of spectrum.
While the last extension expires on August 31, Icasa said it is important that the industry be allowed adequate time to plan and adjust their operations after having had access to the spectrum for 17 months.
“It is reasonable that they be allowed a further three months until November 30 as a sufficient winding down period.”
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