The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) announced that the temporary radio frequency spectrum assigned to mobile operators at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic will have to be returned to the regulator no later than 30 November. The temporary assignments were provided in April 2020 when the National State of Disaster was declared, in order to provide operators with extra capacity for internet services. Since then, ICASA has twice extended the duration, with the last expiry date being 31 August.
ICASA said it has taken account the number of infections, the gradual reopening of the economy and the steady progress in the vaccination programme. After seventeen months, it is reasonable that licensees should be allowed another three months until 30 November as a sufficient winding down period, the regulator said.
