ICASA Announces Completion of the First Week of IMT Spectrum Auction

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa successfully completed the first week of the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) radio frequency spectrum auction, having started with the Opt-In Phase on Tuesday, 8 March 2022, followed by the main stage that commenced on 10 March 2022.

The Opt-In Phase managed to raise just over R2.6 billion payable by the winning bidders. ICASA is pleased to announce that the auction is proceeding very well and can confirm that we have gradually passed estimated R8 billion proceeds from the auction. The auction will proceed on Monday, 14 March 2022 at 09h00.

Generally, spectrum auctions of this nature can take weeks to clear. However, the Authority will announce the winning bids attained by each bidder at the end of the auction stage.

ICASA is further pleased to receive the congratulatory message from Cabinet of the Republic of South Africa led by President Cyril Ramaphosa with respect to the commencement of the spectrum auction process currently in progress.

The Authority has further noted the announcement and position of government relating to the amendment of the Policy Direction on the licensing of the Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN) for public comments. The proposed amendments remove the requirements to licence the WOAN. The Authority had already started the process of revisiting the WOAN and its related business case and will consider the Policymaker’s (Government) latest position on this matter.,

The Digital Migration litigation between e-tv and the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies is taking place next week, from the 14th and the 15th of March 2022. ICASA hereby announces that it has joined the litigation in support of the Minister to see this process concluded without further delay. ICASA has noted the switch-off date announced by the Minister; and is in full support of government’s commitment towards the implementation and completion of the digital migration process across the country.

South Africa has been lagging behind and this process must be concluded sooner rather than later and ICASA is calling on all broadcasters and stakeholders in general to support the conclusion of this process.