ICASA gets tough on spectrum

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 14 Feb 2007

Telecommunications operators not using their allocated spectrum, or failing to use it efficiently, could lose the allocation, warns the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA).

ICASA spokesman Jubie Matlou says the regulator has embarked on a two-phase initiative that will eventually result in spectrum being freed up to be used for WiMax services.

The move is part of the regulator's initiative to develop a more equitable framework of spectrum allocation, he says.

The first phase of the initiative involves a review of all spectrum usage within the South African telecoms sector, he says. Chapter five of the Electronic Communications (EC) Act empowers ICASA to audit organisations that have been allocated spectrum to ensure it is used efficiently, he adds.

In light of this provision, ICASA last year announced its plan to review the allocation of bands 2.5GHz to 3.5GHz. Matlou says ICASA has analysed written submissions, public hearings will be held and the process finalised by April 2007.

Following the completion of the spectrum usage audit, companies that are not using their spectrum, or those not using it according to licence conditions, may be required to surrender it, Matlou says.

Speed required

However, stakeholders, including consumer groups, mobile operators and value-added network service (VANS) providers, have become impatient with the regulator. They have repeatedly called for clarity on the framework that will be used to allocate WiMax spectrum.

"Service providers still feel they are being kept in the dark. They've had to put their plans on hold," says BMI-TechKnowledge analyst Richard Hurst.

Stakeholders also argue that delays in WiMax spectrum allocation are causing SA to lag behind other African countries. ICASA points out that it has already allocated spectrum to Telkom, Sentech, Neotel and WBS, and that a band has been set aside for underserviced area licensees.

Telkom says it has successfully tested WiMax technology and is now in the final stages of developing a WiMax product. Deployment will commence later this year, the fixed-line operator says.

Neotel has also been allocated the required WiMax spectrum and licence, and has conducted trials. A realistic WiMax roll-out date would be in the second half of 2007, Neotel says.

Sentech was unable to respond to ITWeb's queries by the time of publication. However, Hurst notes the state-owned utility, which government has tasked to roll-out a wireless broadband network to underserviced areas and provide for government service delivery, needs strategic partners to fulfil its objectives.

"Sentech should be sitting on a gold mine," he says.

Allocation issues

ICASA says it would like to re-assure operators not to panic as the process will be transparent.

Matlou says the regulator is aware the "first come, first served" basis will be inappropriate in ensuring equitable allocation of spectrum.

"ICASA is therefore pre-empting a better method of spectrum allocation to operators by linking the allocation of the spectrum to the issuance of network licences in line with chapters three and five of the EC Act, because an operator first needs a service licence issued in terms of chapter three before applying for spectrum allocation."

To this end, several operators have been granted test licences to allow them to assess the feasibility of providing services using WiMax, Matlou says.