Communications regulator Icasa has issued an invitation to apply for a tender to help it value high-demand spectrum bands ahead of a planned assignment of the valuable radio frequencies.

“Icasa wishes to appoint consultants to provide consultancy services to assist it with determination of the fair economic value of the IMT700, IMT800, IMT2300, IMT2600 and IMT3500 radio frequency spectrum…,” it said.

The spectrum bands in question are all suitable for providing mobile broadband services. However, IMT700 and IMT800 — or the 700MHz and 800MHz bands — are still being used for television broadcasting, and their assignment and use is dependent on government getting a move on with the analogue to digital migration project.

News of the invitation to apply comes on the same day that communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams released a long-awaiting policy direction to Icasa on the assignment of high-demand spectrum. TechCentral first published details about the policy direction earlier on Friday.

Valuing the spectrum is an important precursor to assigning it, either through a spectrum auction with reserve prices or some other method.