The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has surprised the telecommunications industry by announcing on Wednesday that it will publish a framework for licensing of spectrum in the 800MHz and 2,6GHz bands on Thursday (*see update below) and would seek applications for access to the spectrum by March 2012.

The move is surprising as the department of communications is still believed to be busy with an audit into SA’s spectrum usage and it was understood the authority was waiting for this to be concluded before licensing the spectrum.

The two bands in question are in high demand from mobile operators, which want to use them to build next-generation long-term evolution networks. The first of the bands, in the “digital dividend” spectrum, is currently used by television broadcasters, but they’re supposed to give up the spectrum by the end of 2013 when government has set the deadline for full migration from analogue to digital technologies.

Icasa says it will publish a “framework” document for the licensing of high-demand spectrum in the two bands on Thursday in a move that is likely to be welcomed by the mobile operators. MTN, for one, has said it is ready to build a national LTE network if it can get access to additional spectrum. It appears likely that Icasa plans to issue spectrum to operators in both bands, something that industry body, the GSM Association, has lobbied strongly for.

“The authority is of the view that this regulatory process will go a long way to introducing innovative sharing mechanisms and allowing as many new players as possible to have access to the 2,6GHz and 800MHz bands,” Icasa says in a statement.

“This licensing process seeks to, among others, achieve the following national policy objectives of facilitating the introduction of new national and rural providers of electronic communications, including broadband, and ensuring that participating licensees contribute to broad-based black economic empowerment.”

Icasa plans to publish an invitation to apply for access to spectrum as well as a spectrum assignment plan on Friday, with public comments due by 24 January. The closing date for applications is 23 March. — Staff reporter, TechCentral