Spectrum: Use it or lose it
iBurst CEO Jannie van Zyl recently called on the national regulator ICASA to do more in terms of allocating currently available wireless spectrum and ensuring that those companies who have been allocated spectrum are using it comprehensively.
During a panel discussion at last week’s MyBroadband conference Van Zyl criticized both ICASA and those operators who were allowing spectrum to remain dormant, adding that a “mantra of use it or lose it really must be implemented”.
Van Zyl had particularly harsh words for wireless competitor Sentech, adding that the company had done “a magnificent job of doing absolutely nothing with its allocated spectrum”.
iBurst and Sentech currently have 15 MHz and 50 MHz of WiMAX spectrum, in the 2.6 GHz band, respectively. Sentech’s 50 MHz is located between 2500 MHz and 2550 MHz while iBurst’s spectrum is located between 2550 MHz and 2565 MHz.
iBurst actively uses its allocated spectrum to provide for its wireless customer base. The company has also lodged a request for an additional 15 Mhz of spectrum in order to launch an embedded WiMAX laptop offering with Intel in 2010.
Sentech on the other hand has not fully utilized their spectrum which according to Van Zyl is a travesty.
In September Sentech announced that it would withdraw from the retail telecommunications market, saying that “due to the fast changing nature of the ICT market and entry of well-funded competitors, Sentech has not been able to sustain the momentum and growth of these products and services.”
Van Zyl criticized the lack of action on Sentech’s part and encouraged ICASA to implement a policy whereby those operators who do not effectively use allocated spectrum lose their licences.
Access to Spectrum
ICASA is currently sitting on 125 MHz of spectrum which is yet to be allocated. Despite issuing draft regulations for the licensing of this scarce resource in September, very little progress has been made since then.
iBurst is one of the prospective licensees and they have requested an additional 15 MHz bringing their total to 30 MHz of this spectrum. Van Zyl believes that “wireless technology is going to be the dominant technology,” in South Africa which makes it imperative that “the access to spectrum is improved.”
Currently there are a number of product offerings which are being delayed by ICASA’s lengthy allocation process. DSTV Mobile as well as Intel and iBurst’s embedded WiMAX offering, are examples of services that cannot be launched until ICASA allocates the spectrum.
Spectrum: Use it or lose it – give your views
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