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Communications regulator Icasa will on Wednesday publish the long-awaited invitation to apply (ITA) for so-called high-demand spectrum, which operators are expected to use to expand their 4G and 5G broadband coverage.

You can watch Icasa’s presentation above — proceedings will kick off at 4pm

Icasa will announce how a planned spectrum auction, which will take place by no later than March 2021, will work and how spectrum lots will be divided up for allocation.

The regulator will also provide details about the licensing of spectrum to the planned wholesale open-access network, or Woan, a government plan to increase competition in the mobile industry that has drawn widespread criticism over its feasibility.

“The licensing of spectrum remains key on our regulatory agenda because we understand the benefits thereof. The spectrum auction proceeds will have broader economic benefits for the country as they will also incentivise broadband infrastructure investment and thus stimulate economic growth,” said Icasa chairman Keabetswe Modimoeng in a statement.

“More importantly, the release of spectrum is critical to ensure continued provision of good-quality broadband services and the lowering of the cost to communicate (particularly data costs) in South Africa.”  — (c) 2020 NewsCentral Media