The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has decided to grant licences to six wireless network operators to support extra bandwidth during the coronavirus crisis, until the next spectrum auction can be organised. The licences are valid for a period of seven months, commencing from 1 December 2021 and ending on 30 June 2022 or three months after the termination of the National State of Disaster, whichever comes first.
By the closing date on 17 November, ICASA received six applications, from Rain Networks, Vodacom, Cell C, Telkom, Liquid Intelligence Technologies and MTN. All the applications for provisional spectrum assignments were considered in accordance with the criteria and conditions stipulated in the ICT COVID-19 National State of Disaster Regulations. The licences include spectrum for the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands.
ICASA received four applications for provisional spectrum in the 700 MHz band, and MTN was assigned 10 MHz, Telkom 20 MHz, Vodacom 10 MHz and Rain Networks 20 MHz. ICASA received five applications for spectrum in the IMT800 band, and MTN was granted 10 MHz, Telkom 20 MHz, Vodacom 10 MHz and Cell C 20 MHz in the band.
ICASA urges licensees to share and co-ordinate usage in these frequency bands through a geographic separation of mobile systems and broadcasting services in affected areas, and in accordance with the Terrestrial Broadcasting Frequency Plan of 2013.
Only Telkom applied for spectrum in the 2,300 MHz band, and received 40 MHz in this range. ICASA received five applications for the 2,600 MHz band and awarded Telkom 10 MHz, MTN 40 MHz, Vodacom 40 MHz, Rain Networks 60 MHz and Cell C 20 MHz in this band. ICASA also received applications for provisional assignments in the 3,500 MHz band, and Telkom was granted 12 MHz, MTN 40 MHz, Vodacom 40 MHz, Liquid Intelligent Technologies 4 MHz and Cell C 20 MHz in the band.
All licensees will be required to pay a spectrum acquisition fee, as well as a spectrum usage fee, in addition to the up-front application fee. The authority said it will raise about ZAR 200 million for the national fiscus in the short term from the awards.
The awards come as the previous set of temporary licences is set to expire on 30 November.
