Telecom regulator: South African telecom regulator to charge operators for emergency spectrum – Latest News
The Unbiased Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) allotted the extra emergency spectrum to a number of cellular operators and different licensees in April to fulfill a spike in web demand throughout the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
At the moment, the regulator didn’t require any payment costs to be used of such spectrum.
“We’re conscious that licensees generated and reported income development throughout this era,” ICASA Chairperson Keabetswe Modimoeng mentioned.
“We have now subsequently resolved that, along with fulfilment of the obligations imposed with the discharge of non permanent spectrum, the prolonged use of spectrum should be at a payment as supplied for within the amended rules.”
In line with the modification of the ICT COVID-19 Nationwide State of Catastrophe Rules, licensees can pay pro-rated license charges when it comes to the radio frequency spectrum licence charges rules.
The regulator had prolonged the date inside which the spectrum was alleged to be returned to it from Nov. 30 to no later than March 31, 2021 because of the delays in auctioning high-demand spectrum for 5G.
