Spectrum auction: ICASA interdicted

Published Sep 30, 2016

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The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) was on Friday interdicted and prevented from going ahead with a planned spectrum auction for high-speed broadband in the country.

Judge Roland Sutherland from the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, ordered that ICASA be prevented from implementing the licensing steps and processes referred to or contemplated in the invitation to apply for spectrum licences.

“ICASA is interdicted from accepting bids in terms of the said invitation to apply and from taking any of the steps set out in the invitation to apply to advance the invitation to apply or any similar steps, pending an application by Cell C to launch review proceedings in respect the invitation to apply, provided the review application is served by October 14,” Sutherland said.

In July, ICASA invited applicants to apply for 700 MHz, 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum licences.

Telecommunications Minister Siyabonga Cwele fought this, saying that the government's policy on spectrum was not finalised.

“A further concern is the haste with which ICASA is proceeding to dispose of the spectrum given that this spectrum will not be immediately available,” Cwele’s ministry said in July.

South Africa has pledged to roll out free Wi-Fi services across the country at a cost of around R67 billion, but access for operators to more bandwidth has been delayed for years.

There are five main firms in South Africa's wireless broadband market, including MTN, Vodacom and partially state-owned operator Telkom.

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