Vodacom South Africa has expressed concerns about the long-term commercial viability of the dynamic spectrum allocation framework proposed by the communications regulator Icasa.
While pleased that Icasa is not opening up current broadband spectrum bands for dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS), Vodacom cautioned that the technology is still in an experimental stage, with no sustainable business models evident globally.
The company has requested that Icasa conduct an economic feasibility study to understand sustainability prospects in the South African environment. Icasa’s plan to explore dynamic spectrum sharing aligns with international trends, but there are concerns about the technical feasibility and enforceability of the regulatory regime.
Telkom South Africa, on the other hand, supports Icasa’s spectrum-sharing plans, provided that technical issues are properly addressed. The company believes that dynamic spectrum sharing can improve the efficient use of spectrum in selected frequency bands but has expressed concerns about the availability of accurate real-time information about incumbent services and the enforceability of sharing rules and technical parameters.
MTN South Africa has taken note of Icasa’s request for information and is giving it the careful consideration it deserves. The industry is still weighing the potential benefits and challenges of dynamic spectrum sharing as a method to improve spectrum utilization in the country.
