ICASA asks for WiMax comments

Rudolph Muller

Rudolph Muller is the editor at MyBroadband and covers telecoms and broadband news. Rudolph comes from an academic background, but left the University of...

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The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has called on interested parties to submit comments following the publication of its decisions on the licensing of the remaining radio frequency spectrum in the 2.6 and 3.5GHz bands. The decisions were published in the Government Gazette No 31150 of 17 June 2008.

ICASA has come under fire from some quarters for not handing out at least 30MHz of spectrum on the 2.6GHz band – ICASA decided on 20MHz – something which Intel and some operators have long asked for.

ICASA’s insistence on a 51% BEE shareholding was also criticised for eliminating some players which can most likely make the most with the available WiMax spectrum.

Confidentiality

ICASA said that all representations and documents lodged with the regulator will be open for public inspection by interested parties during the normal ICASA office hours.  Representations and documents that ICASA considers to be confidential will however not be available for public inspection.

People submitting representations that they believe are confidential should indicate so clearly, together with their reasons for requesting confidentiality. ICASA may, on receiving such requests, determine whether those documents will be open for public inspection. If a request for confidentiality is refused, the person making the request will be allowed to withdraw the document in question.

ICASA said that the written comments should be received by no later than 4pm on 11 August 2008 either by hand delivery, fax or electronic format.

WiMax spectrum discussion