The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) hereby calls for comments on the Draft International Mobile Telephony (IMT) Roadmap that seeks to ensure universal availability of broadband services as well as a vibrant and competitive telecommunications industry and promote investments.
The growing demand for mobile broadband in South Africa indicates a need for more mobile broadband bandwidth capacity in general. It is generally known that many rural areas do not have access to mobile bandwidth indicating a need for a more universal mobile broadband coverage, a need best served by deploying lower frequencies that propagate a wider market.
A key driver for the deployment of IMT bands is the need to ensure that mobile broadband plays its role in meeting the objectives of ‘broadband for all’, which is encapsulated in the targets of SA Connect (Broadband Policy), and a key part of the document concerns the deployment of the 700 MHz and 800 MHz digital dividend bands (and potentially the 450-470 MHz Band) to provide universal service.
The consultation document aims to share the findings and draft proposals of the Authority with regards to the roadmap for radio frequency spectrum for IMT and builds on the Frequency Migration Plan published in April 2013.
The roadmap involves the migration of a number of current licensees out of (or within) bands identified for IMT services. For bands where costs and benefits of the migration were not straightforward, the Authority conducted further feasibility studies to determine the appropriateness of the migration.
All interested stakeholders are requested to make their submissions by no later than close of business on 07 October 2014 and may refer their enquiries via email to: Richard Makgotlho at rmakgotlho@icasa.org.za.
The Draft IMT Roadmap document is available on ICASA’s website (www.icasa.org.za).
Enquiries:
PasekaMaleka
Tel:0115663455
Cell:0795090702
Email: pmaleka@icasa.org.za
