MTN has filed papers to oppose Telkom\u2019s urgent application to block South Africa\u2019s spectrum auction from going ahead on 8 March 2022.<\/p>\n
Radio frequency spectrum is the raw network capacity that cellular network operators use to communicate between mobile devices and their towers.<\/p>\n
Telkom approached the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to block the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) from going through with an auction of sought-after spectrum.<\/p>\n \u201cSpectrum is not just an industry issue, this is an issue for all our people and while there are certainly elements of the [invitation to apply] that are a concern, we have to work together to best benefit the people of South Africa,\u201d said MTN SA CEO, Charles Molapisi.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to provide sustained data quality and speed but most importantly, continued reductions in the price of data. Spectrum is the key to this, and we need to collaborate now, with the regulator and all stakeholders, to unlock SA\u2019s economic recovery,\u201d Molapisi added.<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s mobile network operators, including Telkom, have long maintained that releasing additional spectrum will help reduce prices, increase coverage, and improve network quality.<\/p>\n However, Telkom said that there are major problems with Icasa\u2019s invitation to apply (ITA) for the spectrum \u2014 chiefly that the regulator has not considered the competitive market implications of licensing the network capacity, and that important parts of the spectrum are still occupied by TV broadcaster E-tv.<\/p>\n In a statement issued on Friday, MTN said that although the current ITA is not perfect, it believes Icasa has tried to strike a delicate balance for all players.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot have a repeat of 2021, where the entire process was delayed for another full year, and that on the back of 14 years of no additional spectrum being added to the industry,\u201d MTN stated.<\/p>\n \u201cA successful spectrum auction has the capacity to not only release much-needed funds into the national fiscus, but it will have an immediate impact on consumers,\u201d said MTN.<\/p>\n It said that Icasa\u2019s allocation of temporary spectrum is evidence of this, as data prices have continued to fall, making Internet access even more accessible.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout last year, MTN consistently worked with the regulator to avoid further delays in the spectrum process, hence the very narrow focus of the company\u2019s 2021 court challenge, but the time for action is now,\u201d the operator said.<\/p>\n This article first appeared on MyBroadband. You can read the original here<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
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