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<\/a><\/p>\nAt the end of 2016, government finally took a hard line on the much-debated topic of spectrum in South Africa.<\/p>\n
In the\u00a0September amendment to the National ICT Policy White Paper, the government stated\u00a0that\u00a0radio frequency spectrum must be\u00a0assigned to a national wireless open access network (WOAN).<\/p>\n
It also suggested that radio frequency licenses would be taken away from Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and Telkom to incorporate\u00a0their capacity into a WOAN.<\/p>\n
The WOAN would essentially act as\u00a0a single wholesale network instead of relying on competing mobile networks to deliver mobile broadband services in their country.<\/p>\n
Citizens are promised better coverage, more competition, and as a result, more affordable prices.<\/p>\n
However, a new study by the GSMA shows that these plans are likely wildly ambitious – if indeed they roll out at all.<\/p>\n
The study found that, of the\u00a0five countries originally considering this option, only one – Rwanda – has rolled out a network.<\/p>\n
The Rwandan WOAN has failed to deliver on numerous promises it originally made, many of which are similar to those proposed in South Africa.<\/p>\n
The report shows that countries are more likely to be hampered by the technology, as operators are forced to buy in with no discernible benefit.<\/p>\n “There is no sign mobile broadband services have become more affordable because of the government intervention, according to data from the regulator’s website,” said the report.<\/p>\n “This contrasts with the cost of voice services, which has fallen over the same period.”<\/p>\n The below graph shows how data prices increased across the board in Rwanda (Airtel and Tigo) – despite the fact that the WOAN has already been instituted in the country.<\/p>\n It also shows how, over the same period, MTN has increased its data prices.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nGoing backwards<\/strong><\/h3>\n