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<p>The conversation around spectrum and its future in South Africa is a an on-going one. Recently, the communications regulator Icasa extended the temporary allocation of emergency spectrum under South Africa’s disaster management regulations by two months. This as the country&#8217;s first ever auctions which were expected to take place this month, were delayed by on-going court action. The Free Market Foundation has put together a paper on radio spectrum policy serving consumers. Free Market Foundation Founder and President, Leon Louw joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Withholding spectrum has hurt poor people the most – Free Market Foundation

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<p>Icasa will publish the invitations for its licensing process of Wireless Open Access Network and IMT spectrum by Friday. The allocation of spectrum to mobile networks has been on high demand with both government and companies demanding the service. Joining CNBC Africa to unpack the spectrum auction is Dimakatso Qocha, Councillor at ICASA.</p>


Icasa: Mobile operators set to bid for spectrum from Friday

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<p>Icasa will release emergency spectrum to help mobile operators meet the spike in demand for broadband services due to many people working at home during South Africa’s 21 day lockdown. Acting Chair of the telecoms regulator, Keabetwse Modimoeng joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


SA’s COVID-19 lockdown: Icasa to release emergency spectrum

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<p>The Independent Communications Authority of SA has gone ahead with plans to speed up the roll-out of 5G infrastructure. Icasa has started with its 5G licensing process as well as publishing detailed proposals on how five bands of new 4G spectrum will be licensed. Joining CNBC Africa to discuss this is Icasa CEO, Willington Ngwepe.</p>


Icasa speeds up 5G licensing

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<p>ICASA has been anxious that MultiChoice group is using its dominant position in the market to limit competition in the streaming market. MultiChoice has submitted that streaming services such as Netflix pose a significant threat to its operations in South Africa and are therefore calling on ICASA to regulate international streaming services. For more CNBC Africa is joined by Botlenyana Mokhele, a Councillor at ICASA</p>


MultiChoice, Netflix issue: ICASA speaks out

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<p>South African users of data packages will have to hold on a little longer as the independent communication authority of South Africa has extended the deadline for certain networks.</p>


Roll over data costs regulations postponed to 12 April

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<p>South African users of data packages will have to hold on a little longer as the independent communication authority of South Africa has extended the deadline for certain networks to implement the roll over data service. This service will enable data users to transfer unused from one month over to the next without worrying about data expiration. The deadline for the change of legislation was scheduled for today however the ICASA board has extended the deadline for certain networks.  ICASA has extended the date for the implementation of the regulations to 12 April 2019.</p>


Roll over data costs regulations postponed

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<p>The national chants of #DataMustFall have found an ear with Icasa. The regulator has been held month public hearings on data and today announced four new regulations to end-user and subscriber services charters.</p>


What you need to know about data changes coming SA’s way

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<p>Icasa has confirmed that it will investigate a complaint lodged by the Democratic Alliance against MultiChoice about payments to the SABC and ANN7 that have been described by critics as “kickbacks” designed to try to influence government policy.</p>


Why Naspers should come clean on alleged MultiChoice ‘kickbacks’

<p>The #DataMustFall campaign has been relatively quiet in recent months, after the flurry of calls for companies such as MTN and Vodacom to do away with a basic, moral tenet of business: making a profit. While we wait as the bureaucratic process takes its usual meandering course, there have been sporadic calls in the media for the campaign to be resurrected. Most notable among these: Saki Missiakos, the CEO of Internet Solutions, who has told MyBroadband that “You and I should not be paying for data”.</p>
<p>While I do not have an intimate knowledge of Internet Solutions, their services, and profit-margin, on their website they offer a wide range of services and pricing options. For the financial department of the corporation to manage running the business without making a profit with a CEO who truly believes that doing so is moral, I would love to see such ingenuity.</p>
<p>However, the comments were not directed at only his own company, but broadly at other players in the industry. To view profit-making as immoral is already problematic – to impose this on other people and to expect them to follow your flawed moral dictate, is even more difficult to swallow.</p>
<h3>Connectivity as basic human right</h3>
<p>Missiakos elaborated on his statement and said that connectivity is a basic human right and that “our goal is to make sure that everyone has access” to it. If the connectivity at hand is being provided by a company, then, unfortunately, it is not a basic human right. The connectivity is being provided through someone else’s work. If you are denied the absolute right to the product of your mind and your own effort, and someone else or the state decides how to dispose of it, you are a slave.</p>
<p>Somehow the notion of rights has been expanded to include a right to what others produce. It is easy to call on the government to provide basic rights, but it can only provide them if they collect enough taxes. So, at the end of the day, someone is paying for the data service which some are demanding should be free.</p>
<p>If you believe that data should be free, if you support the Data Must Fall campaign, I encourage you to start a business providing such a service – just remember that you will have to do so for zero profit. You are quite at liberty to do so. But also remember that, despite what you may think are noble intentions, you have no moral claim on what anyone else has produced and you cannot demand that they do <em>x </em>because you deem it appropriate.</p>
<h3>Spectrum allocation</h3>
<p>Spectrum allocation is yet another mess to sort out. Government stands at the centre of this mess and here I agree with Missaikos that ICASA needs to do more to engage with industry and free up more spectrum. Greater access to the spectrum will make it easier for smaller competitors to enter the market and the increased competition will result in cheaper data products for consumers. If providers want to offer ‘free’ options as part of their services, that is their prerogative.</p>
<p>Before you retweet the meme that data in South Africa is the most expensive in the world, make sure that the statistics quoted are comparing apples with apples and that our context is taken into account. Before you demand that data, or any other product or service, be ‘free’, remember that you are making a moral claim on someone else’s time, resources and effort. Making broad moral demands on whole industries will not result in concrete change.</p>
<p><em>Chris Hattingh is a researcher at the Free Market Foundation</em></p>


ICASA

Withholding spectrum has hurt poor people the most – Free Market Foundation

Icasa: Mobile operators set to bid for spectrum from Friday

SA’s COVID-19 lockdown: Icasa to release emergency spectrum

Icasa speeds up 5G licensing

MultiChoice, Netflix issue: ICASA speaks out

Roll over data costs regulations postponed to 12 April

Roll over data costs regulations postponed

What you need to know about data changes coming SA’s way

Why Naspers should come clean on alleged MultiChoice ‘kickbacks’

Op-Ed: #DataMustFall – providers to decide for themselves

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ICASA

Withholding spectrum has hurt poor people the most – Free Market Foundation

Icasa: Mobile operators set to bid for spectrum from Friday

SA’s COVID-19 lockdown: Icasa to release emergency spectrum

Icasa speeds up 5G licensing

MultiChoice, Netflix issue: ICASA speaks out

Roll over data costs regulations postponed to 12 April

Roll over data costs regulations postponed

What you need to know about data changes coming SA’s way

Why Naspers should come clean on alleged MultiChoice ‘kickbacks’

Op-Ed: #DataMustFall – providers to decide for themselves

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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