When South Africa went into lockdown in March 2020, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) expedited an invitation to apply in April 2020 to improve communication infrastructure by granting licensees temporary radio frequency spectrum.

While that temporary spectrum was meant to expire today, 31st August, the council of ICASA has now made one more extension. Now, temporary spectrum need only be returned by 30th November 2021.

“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 chairperson, Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng said in a statement.

The decision to make the last expiry date 30th November takes into account the current state of play as regards the number of infections, the opening of the economy and the progress of the vaccination program.

Furthermore, ICASA says that it needs to focus its efforts on the permanent licensing of spectrum, a process that has been delayed at nearly every turn. The most recent delay comes after a legal battle was launched regarding an invitation to apply.

Licensees will need to start winding down operations on temporary spectrum according to ICASA. When exactly the spectrum auction will take place however is still unclear and with temporary spectrum being revoked in November, we’re not hopeful that the issue of spectrum will be resolved in 2021.

There’s always 2022, 2023 and the future though right?