Telkom South Africa has again approached the North Gauteng High Court to block the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) from taking back the emergency spectrum assigned at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, ITWeb reported. Telkom is seeking a court order to prevent it from withdrawing the spectrum licences from 30 November. It also wants the court to set aside the regulator’s decision not to extend these licences.
The telephony group says there is a well-grounded apprehension of irreparable harm should the interim relief sought not be granted. In the court papers, Siyabonga Mahlangu,Telkom group executive for regulatory affairs and government relations, argues that ICASA cannot withdraw spectrum because the pandemic has brought about a "new normal" that requires connectivity. He argues that this "new normal" is characterised by large numbers of people working and studying from home, and by use of online services and virtual social and work gatherings needed because of imposed limits on physical, public gatherings.
People and businesses rely on online applications to trade and interact, says Telkom, and this requires broadband connectivity. Mahlangu asserts that the temporary radio frequency spectrum is a critical element in meeting the various capacity requirements of consumers, businesses, government, students and pupils during the pandemic. Mahlangu says the average monthly data traffic on Telkom Mobile's network grew more than 70 percent year-on-year compared with pre-Covid-19, and withdrawing the temporary spectrum will have serious implications on the business.
