Concerns over wasting LTE spectrum

More spectrum per operator means better quality, higher speeds and [-]lower prices[/-] much higher profits...
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That's what he meant to say.
 
I agree with him. Where are we going to find these wholesale operators that come out of the blue? They will have to take a massive risk, build entire new organizations and that will take time. It will have to be *big* multinationals, not two bit consortia. And even then - how will they do it cost effectively and fast?

Cellular operators already sunk a lot of cost in infrastructure, organizational structure, stakeholder relationships, specialist skills. New entrants will have to do it which will raise cost but more importantly slow deployment. Slower deployment means effectively less competition.

ICASA should just give the spectrum to the existing players but attach the right conditions to it, with stiff requirements and penalties. Fast rollout. Wholesale access to small players. Regulated consumer price points. What about a target such as "we expect by 2020 the bottom tenth percentile use 100MB per month without an increase in their current monthly telecoms cost, and that top tenth percentile mirror the top tenth percentile of basket of countries in terms of cost AND usage"

It is funny that people believe in deus ex machina. As if some communication fairy will come from the outside and change the game. This "unknown wholesale operators" are just an admission that things are not working as it is - but instead of trying to change the game we are trying to pin our hope on magical external forces.
 
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Johand said:
ICASA should just give the spectrum to the existing players but attach the right conditions two it, with stiff requirements and penalties.
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+1. But we all know ICASA is useless, toothless, slow and only like to talk about talking and write about writing. They have no substance. They will not be able to enforce any penalties if these license conditions are not met. They have not done it in the past, are not doing it presently, and will not be able to do it in the future.
 
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ICASA is trying to get the best of both worlds, make the existing operators spend billions of rands on spectrum in the blind auction as well as achieve the Govts demands of rural broadband by using a wholesale operator.
 
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“Vodacom is uniquely placed to make use of more spectrum to roll out affordable internet access to more people across the whole country,” said Uys."
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At the highest possible price and profit margins of course Mr Uys!
 
Let Sentech keep the 800MHz band ;) for their LTE network :)
 
We are not idiots.................

Saajid said:
While he may have a point, it's hard to trust his words, which are tainted by his history at Vodacom.
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Respectfully Mr. ACK when you were at Vodacom you insisted the same story you are promoting today however now you are on the other side of the fence being Cell-C.

ICASA or the regulator at the time who was not well informed about spectrum granted the whole prime 900mhz band to your company and MTN with your promise's of lower prices and better service.
You then asked for 1800mhz spectrum which was also foolishly given to you by ICASA with few obligations.
Then when 3G did its rounds you requested more spectrum.

Now tally this

12.5 mhz uplink 12.5mhz downlink - 900mhz
10 mhz uplink 10mhz downlink - 1800mhz
15 mhz uplink 15mhz downlink - 2100mhz

VodaCom only

By the way MTN also received the same spectrum assignment.

18 years down the line we are still paying top dollar for pathetic mobile services in South Africa.

Fool the ministers by rolling out Fibre in the CBD's and connect the towers.
What a fantastic service you provide in 10% of the Country.

We live in the 90% of the country's landspace and i promise you all network providers service levels in terms of call quality and data is poor.

MR. Ack i am not a rocket scientist but spectrum hoarding is a simple tool to keep the competition out.

When Airtel lands in SA. We will have democracy in the ICT sector.

ICASA can allocate some 2600mhz spectrum to the mobile operators but 900mhz 3G must first be well utilized.

Vodacom never got any of my money.

Knowledge is power.

Rwandan government recently took a well calculated decision to just grant Airtel a mobile operating licence without an ITA.

The answer is simple they have a proven track record of slashing prices.

Vodacom Tanzania offers cheaper call rates than Vodacom SA within the country.

For the sake of your reputation of heading up Cell-C please don't think we are all fools.

ICASA may be a circus for which you have taken advantage of we are no clowns.

DXL - Team

 
Johand said:
I agree with him. Where are we going to find these wholesale operators that come out of the blue? They will have to take a massive risk, build entire new organizations and that will take time. It will have to be *big* multinationals, not two bit consortia. And even then - how will they do it cost effectively and fast?

Cellular operators already sunk a lot of cost in infrastructure, organizational structure, stakeholder relationships, specialist skills. New entrants will have to do it which will raise cost but more importantly slow deployment. Slower deployment means effectively less competition.

ICASA should just give the spectrum to the existing players but attach the right conditions to it, with stiff requirements and penalties. Fast rollout. Wholesale access to small players. Regulated consumer price points. What about a target such as "we expect by 2020 the bottom tenth percentile use 100MB per month without an increase in their current monthly telecoms cost, and that top tenth percentile mirror the top tenth percentile of basket of countries in terms of cost AND usage"

It is funny that people believe in deus ex machina. As if some communication fairy will come from the outside and change the game. This "unknown wholesale operators" are just an admission that things are not working as it is - but instead of trying to change the game we are trying to pin our hope on magical external forces.
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While I agree that new retail players probably don't have the ability to roll out an extensive LTE network (not within a reasonable timeframe anyway) I don't agree the incumbents should just get given the spectrum because they have infrastructure and capital.

The most important thing is that there is at least one wholesaler with a proper 50Mhz chunk, ideally two. What they do with the rest of the available spectrum doesn't bother me then - let them give it to the incumbents only. I jut want decent wholesale available (with competition) so the smaller players (and the big guys for that matter) can compete on a more even footing. I also want competition at wholesale level so we can have a robust industry.
 
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