The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) is calling for comments on the draft International Mobile Telephony (IMT) roadmap, a process that forms part of broader regulatory intervention in regards to broadband services.
The roadmap, ICASA says in a statement, seeks to ensure universal availability of broadband services, a vibrant and competitive telecommunications industry, as well as promote investment in the country.
"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," says ICASA councillor Peter Zimri.
"This therefore indicates a need for more universal mobile broadband coverage, a need best served by deploying lower sub-1GHz radio frequencies that propagate across a wider coverage area."
According to ICASA, the IMT roadmap provides for 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, it adds.
All written submissions must reach ICASA by no later than 16h00 on 18 January 2019.
To access the draft IMT roadmap document, click here.
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