Regulator officially withdraws 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz spectrum ITAs

[rpm]

ICASA officially withdraws 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz ITAs

ICASA yesterday officially withdraw its ITA for radio frequency spectrum in the 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands

[Garyvdh]

I have no idea what is going on here... but if ICASA is involved it sounds like a royal stuff up.

[bleh69]

i want to work for ICASA so i can also walk around all day with either my head up my arse or my hand in some politicians pocket.

[bleh69]

I also want to work for ICASA. Then I too can walk around all day and push papers in hopes that if i push enough paper, just maybe my head will pop out of my arse.

[Sting]

Perversely enough this is a good move!! This spectrum allocation must be done properly as mistakes could result in a huge stuff up. No shortcuts - it must be done properly!

[ibb]

Perversely enough this is a good move!! This spectrum allocation must be done properly as mistakes could result in a huge stuff up. No shortcuts - it must be done properly!

Exactly. While I still question the real reasons behind ICASA's withdrawing the ITA, if the current structure went ahead it would have been a royal stuff-up. So redoing it is the correct answer.

Unfortunately, a number of people just slammed the withdrawal for no other reason than trying to sound important and educated. And ended up showing their complete lack of understanding of the whole situation. Like ISOC-ZA:

"We know that there are dozens of wireless ISPs struggling to compete with the previously advantaged licensees due to the lack of available licensed spectrum, and their chances of doing so have just been squashed.”

I would like to get Alan's view on who these "dozens of wireless ISPs" are he thinks have enough money to roll out a 50%-population coverage network? Or if he even understands how much these things cost to build?

[McT]

I have no idea what is going on here... but if ICASA and/or the DOC is involved it sounds like a royal stuff up.

fixed

[Garyvdh]

Map of the US Radio Spectrum... very interesting!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...o_Spectrum.png

[ibb]

Map of the US Radio Spectrum... very interesting!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...o_Spectrum.png

Interesting in what sense?

[savagedavid]

Exactly. While I still question the real reasons behind ICASA's withdrawing the ITA, if the current structure went ahead it would have been a royal stuff-up. So redoing it is the correct answer.

Unfortunately, a number of people just slammed the withdrawal for no other reason than trying to sound important and educated. And ended up showing their complete lack of understanding of the whole situation. Like ISOC-ZA:

I would like to get Alan's view on who these "dozens of wireless ISPs" are he thinks have enough money to roll out a 50%-population coverage network? Or if he even understands how much these things cost to build?

There are indeed many wireless ISP's who had their hopes pegged on some regional spectrum. Many wireless ISP's already cover in excess of 80% of the region they operate in. Remember this refers to a relatively small geographic area - it is very different to a national license.

In all fairness to all who have posted; unless you are actively involved in this process it is difficult to figure out what is going on here...