The following allocation was announced by Icasa in its
statement:
Assignment of the radio frequency spectrum in the
700/800MHz bands
The Authority noted that these bands were in demand.
However, due to the fact that analogue and digital Television Broadcasting
services are still operating in the 700MHz and 800MHz frequency bands, sharing
and co-existence in these frequency bands would have to be implemented
systematically through a geographic separation of International Mobile
Telecommunication (IMT) Systems and Broadcasting Services in affected areas in
accordance with the updated 2013 Terrestrial Broadcasting Frequency Plan as
published.
The following applicants were assigned spectrum in these
bands:
1. Telkom has been temporarily assigned 40MHz
2. MTN has been temporarily assigned 40MHz
3. Vodacom has been temporarily assigned 40MHz
Assignment of the radio frequency spectrum in the 2300MHz
band
The following applicants were assigned spectrum in this
band:
1. Telkom has been temporarily assigned 20MHz in addition to
the 60MHz it already has in this band.
2. Vodacom has been temporarily assigned 20MHz.
Assignment of the radio frequency spectrum in the 2600MHz
band
The total amount of available spectrum in this band is
170MHz. The following applicants were assigned spectrum in this band:
1. Telkom has been temporarily assigned 40MHz
2. Vodacom has been temporarily assigned 50MHz
3. MTN has been temporarily assigned 50MHz
4. RAIN Networks has been temporarily assigned 30MHz in
addition to the 20MHz it already has in this band.
Assignment of the radio frequency spectrum in the 3500MHz
band
The total amount of available spectrum in this band is
116MHz. As in other bands, the temporary assignments in the 3500MHz band were
made on the principles of non-discrimination to all qualifying applicants. The
following applicants were assigned temporary spectrum in this band:
1. Telkom has been temporarily assigned 12MHz out of the
32MHz applied for. It is important to note that Telkom is currently assigned
28MHz in the 3500MHz band and was assigned 12MHz to afford it adequate capacity
spectrum to meet the demand occasioned by the pandemic during this period.
2. Vodacom has been temporarily assigned 50MHz as applied
for.
3. MTN has been temporarily assigned 50MHz out of the 70MHz
applied for.
4. Liquid Telecoms has been temporarily assigned 4MHz; which
adds to the 56MHz it already has in this band.
Authorisation to use TVWS (TV White Spaces) during the
National State of Disaster
The Authority received applications from Mthinte
Communications, Levin Global and Morai Solutions for the use of TVWS in the 470
– 694 MHz band.
The authorisation for use of TVWS by these applicants was
granted subject to the following conditions:
1. The applicant must obtain approval from the CSIR, in
conjunction with the Authority, with respect to Geo-Location Secondary Database
(GLSD) connectivity for compliance with the use of TVWS in South Africa;
2. The applicant must obtain type approval certification
from ICASA for its electronic communications equipment; and
3. In the event that harmful interference occurs to existing
broadcasters, the applicant must immediately terminate its services and notify
the Authority accordingly.
Conditions associated with the temporary spectrum
assignment
All successful licensees for temporary IMT radio frequency
spectrum assignments must ensure that they support and create virtual teaching
and classrooms as determined by the Department of Basic Education and the
Department of Communications and Digital Technologies in various districts
during the National State of Disaster. Furthermore, all radio frequency spectrum
licensees must zero rate all COVID-19 sites as identified from time to time by
the Department of Health and published in the Government Gazette.
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