RPM that info used is not great,but probably good to get the point across along with the coverage maps. There are many other ways to improve coverage and capacity, many clever ways. This is perhaps what ICASA is getting at.
But look at it this way, MTN and VC refarmed spectrum with almost no loss in quality and capacity on GSM 1800, Cell c is using one of its WCDMA 2100 channels to push LTE, also without a loss of quality or capacity. This very easily illustrates ICASA's point, operators need to wake up and really start looking into better ways of maintaining quality. Yes there is a limit at which capacity will need to come from new sites and more spectrum,but the introduction of LTE by the big 3 in SA clearly shows where these operators are trying to take the easy way out. In my opinion this is what ICASA is trying to get across.
That said ICASA is also at fault, 800 Mhz spectrum needs to be released and some sort of multi-operator network needs to be put in place in order to provide rural broadband services. Analogue TV also needs to be turned off, there is a lot that is happening in the sub 900Mhz area and having the analogue TV switch off delayed is further stopping development in SA
