ICASA calls for comments on Draft IMT Roadmap
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) calls for comments on the Draft International Mobile Telephony (IMT) Roadmap - an important process that seeks to ensure universal availability of broadband services, a vibrant and competitive telecommunications industry as well as promote investment in the country.
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This is part of the broader regulatory intervention following a growing demand for mobile broadband in South Africa and there is a need for more mobile broadband bandwidth capacity.
“Licensees have indicated a need for more spectrum, while on the other hand, many rural communities do not have access to mobile bandwidth, and there is also an outcry to reduce the perceived high cost of data services. This, therefore, indicates a need for a more universal mobile broadband coverage, a need best served by deploying lower sub 1 GHz radio frequencies that propagate across a wider coverage area,” says ICASA Council’s, Peter Zimri.
The IMT Roadmap provides for an analysis of the prospective IMT radio frequency bands in detail and outlines the alternative options for using the bands for consultation with all interested stakeholders. Depending on the outcomes of the consultation, the respective Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plans will be developed to specify how the bands will be used, following which the assignment process can take place.
All written submissions must reach ICASA by no later than 4pm on Friday, 18 January 2019, and may refer their enquiries to Richard Makgotlho on az.gro.asaci@ohltogkamr.
