Here we go again. Following challenges to its previous licensing process, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has published a new invitation to apply (ITA) for high demand spectrum.
The authority appears to have plotted out a timeline in which applications are due by 31st January 2022 and the actual auction will take place on 8th March 2022. Qualifying bidders will be announced on 21st February 2022.
Will the auction take place this time? While we can’t predict the future, Icasa says that this ITA was published after it consulted with stakeholders in the telecommunications sector as regards their issues with the 2020 ITA and the first and second information memorandums.
“The publication of the first and second IM was done to ensure that stakeholders can have a clearer preview of the intended licensing process and associated licensing conditions – and be afforded the opportunity to make representations to the Authority on what the final licensing process and conditions should entail. The Authority is grateful for the representations received, and has fully considered those views in their entirety,” Icasa chairperson, Keabetswe Modimoeng said in a statement.
Importantly, Icasa will separate the auction of high demand spectrum and licensing of the Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN). This is being done in hopes that the auction for high demand spectrum will proceed smoothly.
Licensing of the WOAN will be done in due course.
“We urge all industry stakeholders to embrace this licensing process, and the auction, as this is the most open and transparent way in which spectrum will be permanently awarded. All the other provisional spectrum arrangements remain interim and will end at the stipulated and communicated dates. Furthermore, we are pleased to note the combined auction reserve prices will yield a minimum of R8 billion for the national fiscus, including enhanced obligations for the benefit of consumers and society-at-large,” Modimoeng added.
As regards 700MHz and 800MHz spectrum bands, these are still tied up in by the digital migration of broadcast services. Icasa says that should digital migration not be complete by the time the auction takes place it “will apply proportional payment formulae for IMT700 and IMT800 bands.”
Here’s hoping this auction doesn’t face further delays and spectrum for 4G and 5G become more widely available.
[Image – CC 0 Pixabay]
