Page 107 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

According to local news reports MTN Group, Vodacom existing towers while carrying more data traffic. SA’s
and Telkom have all been granted additional mobile last big set of spectrum was allocated in 2004 and
spectrum, while Liquid Telecom and Rain Networks 2005, enabling Vodacom and MTN to roll out their 3G
were also granted additional spectrum for their fixed networks. Cell C followed in 2011. Spectrum issued
South Africa wireless access services. The temporary licenses under this week's guidelines will be valid until the end
grant emergency access to additional spectrum to
of November 2020. (April 12, 2020) businesslive.co.za
ease congestion for the duration of the nationwide
lockdown that is now in force to limit the spread of The Independent Communications Authority of South
the coronavirus. A surge in connectivity has been the Africa (ICASA) has announced that it will be extending
result of many South Africans working from home or the validity of all existing radio frequency spectrum
simply using the internet more often while unable to go licenses due to South Africa’s current COVID-19
out. The licenses were released late last week by South lockdown. The communications authority revealed
Africa’s telecoms regulatory body, the Independent last week that it had made the decision in compliance
Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), with regulation 10 of South Africa’s radio frequency
to both mobile network providers and internet service spectrum regulations. ICASA said that in terms of
providers. These licenses were granted at no cost the regulations, the usual due date for the renewal
to the operators. However, they do come with a few of all radio frequency spectrum licenses is 31 March
conditions attached. Firstly, operators are obliged every year. The rules further state that failure to pay
to facilitate access to remote learning initiatives and the set license renewal fee by the due date will result
virtual classrooms. In addition they must not charge in the expiry of the radio frequency spectrum permit
their subscribers for access to health-related websites immediately on the next calendar day as it marks
specifically identified by the country’s Department the beginning of a new financial year. In this regard,
of Health. And, of course, as has been stated more considering the national lockdown in response to
than once, this is a stopgap measure. The additional the global coronavirus pandemic, ICASA has made
spectrum will be only be available to operators on the critical decision to grant all its radio frequency
a temporary basis. The country aims to auction off spectrum license holders an extension to allow them
permanent licenses for the spectrum later this year. to renew their licenses by no later than 30 June 2020.
(April 20, 2020) developingtelecoms.com (April 9, 2020) balancingact-africa.com

Telecommunications regulator, the Independent South Africa’s regulator ICASA invited operators to
Communications Authority of SA (ICASA), said it has apply for additional spectrum which will be released on
received about 35 applications for the temporary a temporary basis, responding to government orders,
allocation of radio frequency spectrum to aid in an effort to meet increased demand caused by the
communications during the national lockdown. The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. In a statement,
announcement came three days after the government ICASA said it would make high-demand spectrum
published a gazette containing regulations for the available for the duration of a national state of disaster
allocation. The government instructed ICASA in to ease network congestion, maintain good quality of
March to issue new spectrum to telecom operators broadband services and enable licensees to lower the
on a temporary basis in order to expand the network cost of access for consumers. The move comes after
and cater for a surge in demand as companies work the South African government reportedly demanded
remotely during the nationwide lockdown. ICASA did ICASA issue additional spectrum to aid operators, as
not disclose the list of applicants, which may include the country entered a three-week lockdown to contain
established players MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, Telkom and the virus. Spectrum in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 2300MHz,
recent entrants such as data-only player Rain, in which 2600MHz and 3500MHz bands will be made available,
Patrice Motsepe's African Rainbow Capital Investments with companies required to submit applications by
holds about a fifth. As the additional spectrum is meant 9 April, ICASA said. Acting Chairperson Keabetswe
to increase capacity for existing networks, it's unlikely Modimoeng, however, insisted the emergency release
that operators who don’t already have cellphone towers of spectrum “does not, in any way whatsoever”, negate
in place have applied. Fiber network operator Vox processes underway for the permanent assignment
Telecom is one such player and CEO Jacques du Toit of spectrum. South Africa plans to hold an auction for
recently confirmed that the company had not applied. In additional frequencies, which it hopes to finalize by
addition to mobile operators, applicants could include the end of 2020.Modimoeng added the criteria used to
technology companies, banks and local government release the spectrum on a emergency basis will be fair
authorities with their own communications systems and non-discriminatory, as ICASA was committed to
in place. Spectrum refers to the radio frequencies ensuring the move should neither delay, nor undermine,
on which data and information are carried. Mobile the move to license the spectrum permanently. “We
operators have long argued that access to spectrum intend to take the necessary care in this regard, and to
will help reduce the cost of mobile data in SA because ensure that there are no irreversible anti-competitive
it will allow them to cover a wider geographic area with effects for the market,” he said. (April 2, 2020) mobileworldlive.com
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