WiMax under ICASA spotlight

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 27 Mar 2007

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) will later this week hold public hearings on the procedures and criteria for awarding spectrum licences in the 2.5MHz-3.5MHz band, which can be used for WiMax technology.

The hearings, from 28 to 30 March, follow the regulator's invitation to stakeholders to present written submissions by November last year.

ICT stakeholders, including the Communication Users Association of SA, the Internet Service Providers Association of SA and MTN, previously complained spectrum for WiMax technologies was not allocated in a fair and equitable manner.

They also alleged those that have been allocated WiMax spectrum were hoarding the scarce resource, and not using it.

ICASA says in a media statement that spectrum in the 3.5MHz band has been subdivided according to the plan outlined by the International Telecommunications Union. Two-fifths of the 3.5MHz spectrum was allocated to Telkom, Sentech and Neotel, leaving three-fifths for further allocation.

Spectrum licences in the 2.5MHz band were allocated to Sentech and iBurst (previously known as WBS), leaving 126MHz available for further assignments, the regulator says.

A total of 20 companies and institutions, including telecoms operators, municipalities, broadcasters and associations, are expected to state during the hearings how they think the remaining spectrum should be allocated.

These institutions are also expected to present arguments as to why they should be allocated the spectrum.

ICASA spokesman Jubie Matlou previously said the regulator is aware a "first come, first served" basis would be inappropriate in ensuring equitable allocation of spectrum. The spectrum allocation process will be transparent, he said.