Page 3 - EngineerIt March 2021

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

Que será, será

hen Doris Day made the song Que será, será ICASA has held many public hearings
popular, instead of love she could well have on spectrum and general communication
Wbeen referring to communication spectrum for issues. The industry and other stakeholders
South Africa! Written in 1956, the lyrics of the refrain very participate in these events but lo and behold,
aptly reflect where we stand today with the release of when regulations are published, some part of
broadband spectrum: the industry will run to the courts with some or
other interdict.
Que será, será
Whatever will be, will be I believe the time is right for the industry
The future’s not ours to see to start taking a broader view and put the
Que será, será country first, instead of focussing on petty
What will be, will be! issues and holding the whole country to
ransom. It is a well-known fact that access
And so it is. Just as everyone was excited that after more to broadband will stimulate economic
than a decade of bungling by a string of communication growth. So, if the industry could for once
ministers, ICASA was going to hold spectrum auctions and take a broader view, South Africa would
South Africans were finally on the road to have access to have had access to broadband long ago
real broadband, along came MTN and Telkom with court and industry would have increased its
interdicts to stop the process. revenue instead of spending it on litigation.
What are they thinking?
According to Telkom, the first fundamental flaw made
by ICASA is that the auction ITA involves the auction All this also has an impact on broader
of portions of spectrum in the 703-733MHz paired with communication issues. ICASA is bogged
758-788MHz (the 700MHz), and the 791-821MHz paired down with litigation issues which are a drain
with 832-862MHz (the 800MHz) frequency bands, which it on its limited resources and involve personnel
argues are not immediately available for use on a national who could be focussing on other important
basis by a licensee who may ultimately succeed in its bid issues such as type approval of equipment.
during the auction process.
Come on communication industry! Stop
“Neither the authority nor the minister has formally running to the courts, get your CEOs around
committed to a date by which these frequencies will the table and don’t let small issues become
become available for use by any licensee. They have insurmountable ones. South Africans can do
been unable to provide such clarity, notwithstanding better than this!
the fact that Telkom and other interested parties have
sought such clarity during their submissions flowing from Join the debate and let me know what you
the ITA process. are thinking. Your opinion counts. Drop me an
email: hansv@nowmedia.co.za
The reason that the spectrum is in dispute is because it will
not be available as the TV digital migration process has not Enjoy reading this edition of EngineerIT
been completed. It is also partly because of bungling by
various ministers of communication, litigation by ITV and Hans van de Groenendaal
the quibble about encryption or an open signal. Editor

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