JOHANNESBURG (WiMAX Day). The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has said that it will consider the issuance of new spectrum licenses in the 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz frequencies for use with WiMAX services.

The regulator acknowledged that “radio frequency spectrum for wireless access technologies is currently dominated by few organisations that deploy national networks.”

Thus ICASA has decided to issue 6 national licenses of 20 MHz each in the 2.6 GHz range, on a technology neutral basis, even though “the technologies being developed in the 2.6 GHz band are mobile in  nature and primarily based on IEEE 802.16e standard.” For the 3.5 GHz range, ICASA said it will issue two licenses in each local municipality of 15 MHz each.

Licenses for the spectrum will be issued in a two-step process. The first phase will be a pre-qualification “beauty content,” followed by an auction.

One of the primary criteria for pre-qualification will be the profile of any bidder representing “historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs).” To be defined as representing HDIs, the regulator notes that a company must be a minimum of “Fifty-one percent (51%) black-owned with emphasis on women,” and other similar acts of legislature for HDIs, including employment equality and skills development.

Dates for either the pre-qualification or the auction have not been set by ICASA.