The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has swooped on steel company ArcelorMittal SA for allegedly using radio frequency spectrum illegally.
According to Icasa, it “initiated an investigation into the company about three weeks ago” and conducted an “inspection” on 24 November. “During the inspection, the company failed to produce licences for the radio equipment (repeaters, simplexes, telemetry systems and mobile handheld radios) that the authority says are currently being used.
ArcelorMittal was given seven days’ written notice to pay an estimated R2m in licence fees for using the spectrum without authorisation, and the notice expired on 1 December, Icasa says in a statement.
“In executing a warrant issued by the Pretoria magistrate’s court, the authority seized five repeaters and six mobile handheld radios at the company’s Pretoria West office and will continue to visit other offices of the company in other parts of the country for continued seizure.”
An ArcelorMittal spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. — Staff reporter, TechCentral
- Subscribe to our free daily newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter or on Google+ or on Facebook
- Visit our sister website, SportsCentral (still in beta)