The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has published for further public consultation, three Second Draft Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plans (RFSAPs) for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) systems.
In the light of the submissions made by stakeholders, the Authority determined that three of the ten bands require a further round of consultation. These have now been published in the Government Gazette No: 48078.
The three bands are:
• 450 MHz to 470 MHz;
• 825 MHz to 830 MHz and 870 MHz to 875 MHz;
• 1427 MHz to 1518 MHz
It is in the interest of the sector to delay the finalisation of the three RFSAPs in question, and to engage in a second round of consultation to establish all the factors to be considered in order to ensure that the spectrum can be awarded to the most valuable user in the near future.
Two of the bands in question have incumbents that have to be migrated, while most stakeholders argued for the third RFSAP to be extended to cover the full band – hence the necessity for further consultation.
Cllr Charley Lewis, Chairperson of the Council Committee
RFSAPs like these formalise the rules and spectrum arrangements for the spectrum in question. These assignment plans are aimed at identifying new high-demand spectrum that the Authority intends to make available for IMT services in the near future. Together, the ten RFSAPs will achieve a 215% increase in high-demand spectrum available for licensing through a competitive process.
These three bands are an addition to the seven RFSAPs published last year. We are confident that the additional bands will provide licensees with greater capacity to meet the demand faced by the sector, improve access to data services, and reduce the cost to communicate.
Cllr Charley Lewis, Chairperson of the Council Committee
