The South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA) has issued a statement to clarify its position after a leaked tender document sparked renewed debate on the impending third cellular licence.
The leaked tender document stated that the authority had decided to disregard most of the conclusions BDO Spencer Steward reached in its independent analysis of the business plans submitted by third cell licence bidders.
"SATRA wishes to state categorically that this is not the case," reads its statement. "The SATRA council did not ignore the BDO Spencer report in making its decision on the intended recommendation for the preferred applicant in February this year. Neither does last week's tender document say the authority ignored the report."
The authority says the report formed only a part of its overall assessment and that it was conducted on partial information, as only the submitted business plans were analysed.
"The information that was not assessed by the BDO Spencer report includes information that came to light during the public hearings of September and October last year, both during the open and closed sessions between the council and the applicants; and information that applicants undertook to submit to SATRA after the hearings."
The tender involves a review of the BDO Spencer report and its conclusions. The report has taken centre stage in assorted objections, allegations and court actions since Saudi-backed Cell C was tipped as the authority's intended preferred bidder, as parts of the document contradict the findings of the SATRA council.
The oft-delayed licence was to be issued by Minister of Communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri in April.
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