ICASA, The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has issued the final Invitation To Apply (ITA) for the licensing of International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum, also known as high-demand spectrum. The deadline to apply for licensing of the spectrum is 16:00 on 31 January 2022.
According to the regulator, the qualifying bidders will then be announced on 21 February 2022, while the auction will take place on 8 March 2022.
Icasa said the framing of the new ITA has considered issues raised by stakeholders in their challenge to the previous licensing processes. That resulted in the delay of the spectrum auction initially set to take place in March this year.
As previously reported on TechDailyPost, several companies including Vodacom, Telkom, eTV and MTN — took Icasa to court over the spectrum auction.
Telkom raised concerns that some of the spectrum was still occupied by TV broadcasters because of South Africa’s slow digital migration process. At the same time, MTN took issue with how Icasa was conducting the auction.
Icasa chairperson Keabetswe Modimoeng said the Authority was grateful for the representations received and “fully considered those views in their entirety”.
Icasa added it would work with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to provide coverage maps for 700MHz and 800MHz spectrum bands based on progress in the analogue switch-off.
“Should the digital migration process not be completed by the time the auction is concluded, the Authority will apply proportional payment formulae for IMT700 and IMT800 bands,” Icasa said.
Icasa confirmed its resolution to separate the high-demand spectrum auction and the licensing of the Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN).
“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,” Modimoeng said.
“All the other provisional spectrum arrangements remain interim and will end at the stipulated and communicated dates.”
Modimoeng added the combined auction reserve prices would yield a minimum of R8 billion to the national fiscus. The Authority said the ITA would be published in the Government Gazette.
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