TechCentralTechCentral
    Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    NEWSLETTER
    • News

      Actually, solar users should pay more to access the grid – here’s why

      12 August 2022

      Fixing SA’s power crisis is not complex: it simply takes the will to do better

      12 August 2022

      Telkom says MTN talks remain on track

      12 August 2022

      Analysis | Rain muddies the waters with approach to Telkom

      11 August 2022

      Rain wants to merge with Telkom: asks to pitch proposal to board

      11 August 2022
    • World

      Apple remains upbeat about iPhone sales even as Android world suffers

      12 August 2022

      Ether at two-month high as upgrade to blockchain passes major test

      12 August 2022

      Gaming industry’s fortunes fade as pandemic ends

      11 August 2022

      Disney tops Netflix in streaming subscribers

      11 August 2022

      Jumia says it’s past peak losses, shares jump

      10 August 2022
    • In-depth

      African unicorn Flutterwave battles fires on multiple fronts

      11 August 2022

      The length of Earth’s days has been increasing – and no one knows why

      7 August 2022

      As Facebook fades, the Mad Men of advertising stage a comeback

      2 August 2022

      Crypto breaks the rules. That’s the point

      27 July 2022

      E-mail scams are getting chillingly personal

      17 July 2022
    • Podcasts

      Qush on infosec: why prevention is always better than cure

      11 August 2022

      e4’s Adri Führi on encouraging more women into tech careers

      10 August 2022

      How South Africa can woo more women into tech

      4 August 2022

      Book and check-in via WhatsApp? FlySafair is on it

      28 July 2022

      Interview: Why Dell’s next-gen PowerEdge servers change the game

      28 July 2022
    • Opinion

      No reason South Africa should have a shortage of electricity: Ramaphosa

      11 July 2022

      Ntshavheni’s bias against the private sector

      8 July 2022

      South Africa can no longer rely on Eskom alone

      4 July 2022

      Has South Africa’s advertising industry lost its way?

      21 June 2022

      Rob Lith: What Icasa’s spectrum auction means for SA companies

      13 June 2022
    • Company Hubs
      • 1-grid
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Amplitude
      • Atvance Intellect
      • Axiz
      • BOATech
      • CallMiner
      • Digital Generation
      • E4
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • IBM
      • Kyocera Document Solutions
      • Microsoft
      • Nutanix
      • One Trust
      • Pinnacle
      • Skybox Security
      • SkyWire
      • Tarsus on Demand
      • Videri Digital
      • Zendesk
    • Sections
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud computing
      • Consumer electronics
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Energy
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Motoring and transport
      • Public sector
      • Science
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home»News»Spectrum auction to be postponed as Telkom secures interdict

    Spectrum auction to be postponed as Telkom secures interdict

    News By Duncan McLeod8 March 2021
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email

    Telkom and e.tv have secured an interdict against communications regulator Icasa, preventing the spectrum auction planned for later this month from taking place until the merits of their case can be heard by the high court.

    In terms of the order, which was handed down by the high court in Pretoria by Judge Selby Baqwa, Icasa is interdicted from assessing or adjudicating any applications received under its invitation to apply to participate in the spectrum auction. The auction was scheduled to take place by no later than 31 March 2021 — this will now not happen.

    At the same time, the court has suspended the closing date for the submission of applications for the licence to operate a wholesale open-access network, or Woan.

    Monday’s judgment is likely to delay the roll-out of commercial 5G networks in South Africa

    The judgment is a victory for Telkom and a significant blow to Vodacom and MTN, both of which were keen for the spectrum auction and licensing process not to be delayed any further. Already, South Africa is about 10 years behind schedule in licensing 4G-suitable spectrum and Monday’s judgment is also likely to delay the roll-out of commercial 5G networks in South Africa.

    Telkom filed paper against Icasa at the high court in December because it believed the regulator’s  invitations to apply for spectrum and the Woan had fundamental flaws that could entrench the “dominance” of Vodacom and MTN.

    Digital dividend

    One of Telkom’s main arguments is that Icasa issued the ITAs knowing that the 700MHz and 800MHz bands – the so-called digital dividend bands used by analogue television broadcasters – are not yet available for use by telecommunications operators. Despite this, Icasa pushed ahead with the licensing of these bands and will expect payment for them despite the inability by successful applicants to use them, Telkom group executive for regulatory affairs and government relations Siyabonga Mahlangu said in an interview with TechCentral at the time.

    Telkom also challenged the ITAs on other grounds, including that Icasa “pre-empted the outcome of the mobile broadband services inquiry”, Mahlangu said, adding that Icasa’s design of the auction, as a result, would not promote optimal competition in the sector. “On the contrary, the way the auction is designed will result in competition being stifled and the entrenchment of the duopoly structure of the market.”

    Telkom’s Siyabonga Mahlangu

    Furthermore, Mahlangu said it was Telkom’s view that Icasa “paid lip service, or at least attached insufficient weight, to a policy direction” on spectrum licensing and the Woan from communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. Specifically, the minister wanted Icasa to “prefer” the Woan in the licensing of spectrum, something Mahlangu did not believe the regulator had done.

    Monday’s judgment in favour of Telkom comes a day before MTN was due to meet Icasa in court over concerns by the mobile operator over how the regulator intends licensing access to the 3.5GHz band. However, TechCentral understands the court date was moved to later this month.

    MTN is worried that an “opt-in phase” in the auction process could exclude it from getting access in this important frequency band for 5G. It was not immediately clear on Monday whether the MTN matter will still be heard this month, given the interdict granted to Telkom.  — © 2021 NewsCentral Media

    e.tv Icasa MTN MTN South Africa Siyabonga Mahlangu Telkom top Vodacom Vodacom South Africa
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email
    Previous ArticleOnline shopping soars at Massmart even as overall sales tank
    Next Article Create ROI-driving personalised communications with inkjet

    Related Posts

    Actually, solar users should pay more to access the grid – here’s why

    12 August 2022

    Fixing SA’s power crisis is not complex: it simply takes the will to do better

    12 August 2022

    Apple remains upbeat about iPhone sales even as Android world suffers

    12 August 2022
    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Promoted

    Pricing Beyond CMYK: printers answer the FAQs

    11 August 2022

    How secure is your cloud?

    10 August 2022

    5 ways to make attack-path management more manageable

    10 August 2022
    Opinion

    No reason South Africa should have a shortage of electricity: Ramaphosa

    11 July 2022

    Ntshavheni’s bias against the private sector

    8 July 2022

    South Africa can no longer rely on Eskom alone

    4 July 2022

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2022 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.