South Africa’s communications regulator has defended its move to launch a wireless broadband spectrum auction amid government threatening legal action over the move.

Earlier this month, Icasa month invited applicants to apply for licences to access the 700MHz, 800MHz and 2,6GHz bands, which will boost the roll-out of faster 4G/LTE broadband across the country.

The auction for the licences is expected to occur in January 2017 and the reserve price to bid on lots of spectrum will be R3bn per lot.

But on Monday night, telecommunications & postal services minister Siyabonga Cwele said his office plans to sue Icasa over the auction.

Key reasons for Cwele’s planned legal action include that government has not yet established policy direction on spectrum and that Icasa allegedly failed to adhere to legislation and regulations.

But Icasa said its invite to applicants to bid on the spectrum is legal.

“Icasa has noted the contents of the minister’s statement and believe that we have followed the law as it currently applies in publishing the ITA (invitation to apply),” said Icasa spokesman Paseka Maleka in an e-mailed statement.

“However, Icasa will decide on a course of action once papers have been filed with the courts,” said Maleka.