Telecom

S. Africa’s High Court suspends sale of new telecom spectrum licenses

S. Africa’s High Court suspends sale of new telecom spectrum licenses
Wednesday, 10 March 2021 15:33

South Africa's Independent Communications Authority (Icasa) was ordered by the Supreme Court on Monday 8 March to suspend the sale of new telecom spectrum licenses for ultra-fast broadband initiated in October 2020. The South African court took into account the opinion of the operator Telkom, which has consistently questioned the fairness of the process.

Aware of the impact of the court’s decision on the development of the market, the telecom regulator plans to appeal. “We are not going back there. It is our considered view that the best option is to exhaust all possible legal avenues at our disposal, including appeals to ensure that this sensitive licensing process is not only defined by industry players but also by the public interest. We, however, await the reasons for the judgment,” said Keabetswe Modimoeng Icasa’s chairperson.

Since December 2020, Telkom has been denouncing, among other things, the sale by the regulator of telecom resources - frequencies in the 700MHz and 800MHz bands - that are not yet available due to the delay in the transition to digital terrestrial television. Also, the price of these resources, which is not affordable for small operators, favors the market leaders MTN and Vodacom.

The companies selected for the acquisition of South Africa's new telecom frequencies were scheduled to be announced on February 22, 2021. But the date was postponed to March 31 by the regulator. With this pause in the process, the launch of broadband telecom services in South Africa is likely to be further delayed.

Muriel Edjo

On the same topic
Through such initiatives, Cassava Technologies aims to position itself as a leading digital solutions provider across its markets, empowering Africans to...
As Kenya races toward a more connected future, the country stands as a regional leader in harnessing technology to unlock human potential and transform...
• Mozambican government and Huawei considering the construction of a local mobile phone factory catered to rural needs • Special features for rural...
• Djibouti adopts new digital code to accelerate digital transformation, with focus on data protection, cybersecurity, and e-commerce. • The move aligns...
Most Read
01

Lebara Group is now bringing its affordable and reliable mobile services to Africa, starting with Ni...

Telecoms: Lebara Enters Nigerian Market with Strong Competitive Ambitions
02

• Gates Foundation commits $1.6 billion over five years to Gavi.• Bill Gates warns of rising ch...

Gates Foundation Pledges $1.6 Billion to Gavi to Boost Global Child Vaccination
03

Transport and food prices have been climbing steadily across Africa in recent years. In Côte d’Ivoir...

Côte d’Ivoire’s Fuel Price Cuts Haven’t Slashed Transport Costs–Yet
04

In a West African financial landscape marked by tighter regulation of the fintech sector, digital fi...

In Five Years, Francophone Africa Will be A Major Force in African Tech –Régis Bamba
05

• Maritime sector faces renewed risks amid military tensions in the Middle East• Blockade fears at S...

Israel-Iran conflict raises new threats for global shipping and oil trade
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com 
Téls: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.