South African ISPs Welcome Radio Spectrum Proposals

South Africa's Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) has welcomed the publication of new draft radio frequency spectrum regulations by the regulator, ICASA that propose to introduce, amongst other things, radio spectrum trading and the sub-leasing of spectrum on a non-profit basis in South Africa.

However, ISPA has appealed to ICASA not to allow these draft regulations to delay the initiation of a fresh spectrum assignment process following its cancellation of an intended auction of spectrum allocations in the 2.6GHz and 3.5 GHz bands earlier this year. ISPA says that spectrum assignment in the above bands are one of the most urgent issues that the regulator needs to address in order to promote competition in the telecom market and improve broadband access across the country.