Broadcast Media Africa has learnt that mobile operator Cell C has recently surrendered significant portions of its licensed radio frequency spectrum to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). This includes frequencies from 7GHz up to the E-band spectrum, which spans from 70GHz to 80GHz.
This decision appears to be motivated by a desire to lower Cell C’s spectrum fees, allowing Icasa to reallocate the released spectrum to other operators. The exact amount Cell C was paying for these licenses has not been disclosed.
Details of this spectrum surrender were disclosed in the minutes of an Icasa council meeting on December 12, 2024. The regulator has approved this submission.
In an official statement, Cell C confirmed its decision to return the spectrum to Icasa as part of its network strategy. The operator indicated that it no longer required this spectrum, which had been previously utilised for microwave backhaul.
“The surrendered spectrum was primarily used for microwave links within Cell C’s radio access network (RAN) to connect its base stations and deliver mobile services,” the company explained to TechCentral.
Cell C elaborated that abandoning its own RAN and shifting towards a capex-light operational model rendered these microwave links unnecessary. Consequently, the company applied for and received Icasa’s approval for the surrender of the spectrum in December 2024.
The spectrum relinquished includes multiple bands: the 7GHz, 8GHz, 10GHz, 15GHz, and 38GHz bands, along with the E-band spectrum.
Despite this reduction in spectrum, Cell C continues to lease spectrum in the bands essential for providing mobile services, which are utilised by its network partners, MTN and Vodacom, to serve their customers effectively.
