South Africa’s telecoms regulator ICASA wants to cut the fees telcos charge each other to carry calls between their networks. ICASA says these charges should be cut by 50 per cent. ICASA’s notice published in the Government Gazette on March 22nd that it wants mobile termination rates slashed from 9c/minute today (13c for smaller operators) […]

SpaceX’s Starlink broadband services is officially not allowed in South Africa. However, various reports suggest that it already has around 14,000 users. One report says that StarSat Africa, the Mozambique-based Starlink importer, will be servicing South Africa with equipment, is set to cut prices for Starlink equipment by 13-20 per cent by the end of […]

Icasa, South Africa’s communications regulator, is complaining about grey market Starlink dish sales in South Africa. Starlink is not licensed in the country. Icasa says such sales are illegal and “must stop immediately”. Icasa believes that dishes and modems are being brought into South Africa from neighbouring countries where they are licensed to operate. Starlink […]

South African telco Telkom has asked communications regulator Icasa to delay its upcoming spectrum auction because it fears it doesn’t have the funds to participate. Icasa sold off a batch of frequencies in 2022 for 4G and 5G services which resulted in Telkom’s rivals (MTN and Vodacom) obtaining significant allocations. Icasa had planned to hold […]

South Africa’s new Minister of Communications, Mondli Gungubele, has updated parliament on the latest plans for digital broadcasting in the country. The new date is that analogue frequencies must be vacated by July 31st and ready for digital transmissions as well as an ending of any remaining dual illumination by the end of 2024. The […]

South Africa’s media and communications regulator, ICASA, has allocated a large slice of the nation’s 6GHz ban for WiFi usage. ICASA’s intention is to help current wireless ISPs that use unregulated spectrum to offer licensed Internet services into businesses and homes, while home users should benefit from improved throughput over their home networks – provided […]

ICASA, South Africa’s telecoms and media regulator, says it is still awaiting a formal licence application from SpaceX, and is not responsible for delays to the Elon Musk-backed business in South Africa. Local reports say that ICASA has “no record” of any SpaceX application which would need to cover radio frequency spectrum or individual network […]

There are complaints about South Africa’s ICASA regarding the length of time the media regulator is taking to issue network and service licences for broadband operators. South Africa’s Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) says that ICASA is undermining the sectors growth and development. ISPA, which has about 220 members (mainly ISPs), said that it wants […]

South Africa’s media and communications regulator, ICASA, has identified seven spectrum bands for auction and subsequent licensing for 4G/5G and future mobile telecoms services. The seven bands are the first new cellular frequencies made available in South Africa for some 15 years. The seven bands are: · IMT700: 703-733MHz and 758-788MHz · IMT750: 733-758MHz · […]

South Africa’s media and broadcast regulator ICASA wants to make additional radio frequency spectrum available for WiFi broadband. ICASA is proposing an amendment to current regulations and has issued a draft amendment for stakeholder comments. The key proposal states: “The authority is proposing the incorporation of the key lower 6GHz band (5.925MHz to 6.425MHz) as […]