Advanced Television

Telkom

MTN responds to Telkom’s auction delay request

As previously reported, South African telco Telkom has asked regulator Icasa to delay its planned spectrum auction, citing anxieties over its ability to fund participation in an auction. The move has prompted Telkom’s rival MTN to complain about the possible delay while another competitor, Vodacom, wants Icasa to come up with a process that considers […]

November 24, 2023By Chris Forrester

South Africa: Telkom seeks spectrum auction delay

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 […]

November 22, 2023By Chris Forrester

South Africa: Telkom to cut 15% of staff

South Africa’s partially state-owned telco, Telkom, has entered into a required consultation process with unions and regulators with the intention of letting go some 15 per cent of its workforce, or about 1,725 people. “The process will impact all business units and subsidiaries and is intended to ensure the sustainability of the group,” Telkom told […]

February 16, 2023By Chris Forrester

South Africa wants to hold onto 2G/3G

South Africa has notified the local telco operators of its intention to end 2G and 3G cellular services by 2025. The operators, including Vodacom, MTN and Telkom, say this could be too soon and have asked for further consultation. The operators say further discussions are needed in order to ensure that consumers will not be […]

September 15, 2022By Chris Forrester

ICASA wraps spectrum auction

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has raised 14.4 billion Rand (€875m) in the South Africa spectrum auction. The cash raised, from 6 bidders, goes into the country’s treasury. ICASA said bidders Vodacom, MTN, Rain, Telkom, Cell C and Liquid Telecom had all bid for, and obtained, spectrum licenses. The auction took 58 […]

March 21, 2022By Chris Forrester

South Africa spectrum auction tops expectations

South Africa’s ongoing cellular spectrum auction has already raised more cash than was expected. The session on March 11th ended with bids of more than 8 billion Rand (about €484m). “ICASA is pleased to announce that the auction is proceeding very well and can confirm that we have gradually passed estimated R8-billion in proceeds. The […]

March 14, 2022By Chris Forrester

ICASA opens spectrum auction

South Africa’s ICASA telecommunications regulator has started its long-planned spectrum auction. The opening moves (the ‘opt-in’ process) started on March 8th with six players involved: Telkom, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Rain. The second round opens on March 10. Bidders have to attend the ICASA offices in Pretoria in person and at […]

March 9, 2022By Chris Forrester

South Africa: 6 bidders for spectrum

South Africa’s communications regulator ICASA has approved six bidders for next month’s capacity auction. They are Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C, Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Rain. The invitations to apply and to submit for the auction was issued back in December 2021 with a requirement to firm up their applications by January 31st. However, telco […]

February 23, 2022By Chris Forrester

Six register for South Africa spectrum auction

Six telcos have formally applied for to take part in the upcoming spectrum being auctioned by South Africa’s government. The timetable closed on January 31st and six players had entered the auction line-up. They are: · Cell C · Liquid Intelligent Technologies · MTN · Rain · Telkom · Vodacom Telkom is still involved in […]

February 2, 2022By Chris Forrester

South Africa hits Telkom with formal probe

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president, has ordered what is described as a “wide ranging probe” into Telkom’s activity since 2006. In the official Proclamation the president has asked the country’s Special Investing Unit to examine Telkom for “serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of Telkom” as well as improper or unlawful conduct by employees […]

January 26, 2022By Chris Forrester