Six firms apply for spectrum ahead of disputed auction

Six companies, including Telkom, have applied to participate in the disputed upcoming auction by communications regulator Icasa of radio frequency spectrum.

Applications, under the invitation to apply that is currently the subject of a court application by Telkom, closed at 4pm on Monday. The following companies submitted applications by the deadline:

• Cell C
• Liquid Intelligent Technologies
• MTN
• Rain
• Telkom
• Vodacom

Despite the ongoing legal action against the process by Telkom – the company wants the merits of its argument heard on an urgent basis, possibly as soon as the first week in March – Icasa said the receipt of the applications “marks an important and critical step towards the auctioning of high-demand spectrum in March 2022”.

“In terms of the published timetable for this licensing process, the authority will announce the qualifying bidders on 21 February 2022. This will mark the next critical milestone in the effort of the authority to finally release this much-needed economic stimulus input,” the regulator said in a statement.

There is, however, every chance the process will still be derailed.

Merits

Although Telkom withdrew a previous application to interdict Icasa, it has said it reserves the right to approach the courts at any time if it feels warranted in doing so.

It has also said it believes the auction cannot proceed until the courts have pronounced on the merits of the matter, not only in its case against Icasa but also in the interrelated matter between e.tv parent eMedia Holdings and communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni over the switch-off of analogue television signals. The eMedia matter is set to be heard on 8 March.

In a statement on Monday following receipt of the six applications, Icasa chairman Keabetswe Modimoeng urged all the role players “to align their interests with their patriotic spirit, and allow this critical regulatory intervention to be completed”.

“We value each milestone in this process, especially considering the mammoth legal challenges we have encountered along the way. Ultimately, the public interest should prevail, as this process will yield positive spinoffs for the industry and society at large.”  — © 2022 NewsCentral Media