All six bidders have qualified for participation in the auction phase of the ongoing licensing process for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum, or high-demand spectrum, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) said.
Information and communications technology groups Cell C, Liquid Telecoms, MTN, Rain Networks, Telkom and Vodacom submitted their applications by January 31 in response to the Invitation to Apply (ITA) issued on December 10.
“The fact that all six applicants have qualified illustrates the robustness of our telecommunications sector in South Africa. We can officially proclaim the forthcoming March spectrum auction as an unparalleled milestone in our country's communications history as this will be the first ever spectrum auction held on our shores,” said Icasa chairperson Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng.
In line with the truncated timetable published by the Authority for this licensing process, and after extensive analysis of received applications, all six applications passed the pre-qualification stage of the licensing process and can now participate in the planned auction stage at the beginning of March 2022.