South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has launched an industry consultation ahead of its next high-demand spectrum licensing process, seeking information from telecommunications operators and other stakeholders on the availability and allocation of key radio frequency bands.
The questionnaire covers six spectrum bands: IMT750, IMT800, IMT1500, IMT2300, IMT3300 and IMT3500. The exercise is being conducted under Regulation 7 of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations of 2015, read together with Section 31(3)(a) of the Electronic Communications Act of 2005.
A significant aspect of the consultation is ICASA’s consideration of releasing 80MHz of spectrum previously reserved for the proposed Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN). The reserved capacity comprises 2 x 10MHz of paired spectrum in the IMT700 band, 30MHz of unpaired spectrum in IMT2600 and a further 30MHz of unpaired spectrum in IMT3500.
The WOAN was a central component of South Africa’s previous spectrum allocation policy, intended to establish an open-access wholesale network that would provide telecommunications operators with access to network infrastructure. However, the proposed network did not develop into a commercially operational entity, leaving the reserved spectrum outside the general allocation process.
Reconsidering the reservation could therefore mark an important shift in the country’s spectrum policy, potentially making additional capacity available for allocation to mobile network operators and other eligible telecommunications providers.
ICASA has emphasised that the questionnaire represents an initial information-gathering exercise rather than a formal competition assessment or licensing process. However, the regulator intends to evaluate the potential competition implications of the proposed spectrum allocation before determining the final approach.
Industry stakeholders have until 16:00 on Monday, 30 November 2026, to submit written responses, including an electronic version in Microsoft Word format. The Authority will also hold clarification meetings, with each session limited to a maximum of two hours.
Responses will inform the development of an information memorandum, which will subsequently provide the basis for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the spectrum licensing process. The consultation committee is chaired by ICASA Councillor Ntombiza Sithole.
The upcoming licensing round follows the 2022 spectrum auction, which generated R14.4 billion from six qualified bidders. The next allocation process is expected to have significant implications for South Africa’s telecommunications market, particularly as operators seek additional spectrum capacity to expand mobile broadband services, improve network performance and support growing data demand.
For the broadcasting and telecommunications industries, the potential release of previously reserved WOAN spectrum is an important policy development, signalling a possible change in how South Africa approaches spectrum allocation, competition and the expansion of digital connectivity.
