ICASA to look at WiMax spectrum allocation
ICASA issued a notice in the Government Gazette No. 29351 published on the 2nd of November asking for comments about the awarding of spectrum where there is insufficient spectrum to satisfy demand.
According to ICASA the 3.5 GHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum bands are where demand exceeds the available spectrum. This is not particularly surprising as these are generally associated with WiMax roll-outs.
Telkom, Neotel and Sentech have already been allocated 3.5 GHz spectrum, with Telkom and Neotel receiving 2 x 28 MHz each and Sentech receiving 2 x 14 MHz. A total of 60 MHz is now available for further assignment.
In the 2.6 GHz band Sentech has an assignment of 50 MHz and WBS/iBurst has been allocated 14 MHz. This leaves a total of 126 MHz spectrum available for further distribution.
All the cellular providers are eagerly looking to snap up WiMax spectrum, but the limited availability of spectrum in the ‘WiMax range’ may mean that they will not be the recipients of spectrum this time around.
If ICASA decides not to award any spectrum to Vodacom, MTN and CellC we may see companies like iBurst and Sentech becoming attractive business partners.
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