The Independent Communications Authority of SA has finalised the identification of seven radio frequency bands for upcoming auction and licensing, part of a process of more than tripling the amount of available high-demand spectrum.
The planned assignment of these bands to their highest-value users thorough a competitive auction process will provide an important stimulus to the further development and deployment of mobile services, Icasa said in a statement on Tuesday. This is aimed at reducing the cost to communicate, increasing universal access and service and providing users with a wide range of value-added services.
The seven radio frequency bands span the low and medium frequencies between the ranges of 700MHz to 3 600Mhz, which have been designated worldwide for broadband mobile systems. Icasa had announced the second phase of its spectrum licensing process in August, starting a comment process, andwhen completing the initial auction of high-demand spectrum, having expected to raise about R8 billion. Network operators Cell C, Liquid, MTN, Rain Networks, Telkom, and Vodacom took part in the bidding process, picking up radio frequency spectrum in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 2600MHz, and 3500MHz bands.