The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has published draft regulations on the use of TV White Space (TVWS).
The draft regulations, which are open for public consultation until 19 May 2017, highlight the progress South Africa is making in enabling affordable Internet through dynamic spectrum access.
The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance welcomes the draft regulations, which will be discussed at the DSA Global Summit, taking place in Cape Town between 9 to 11 May 2017. Industry leaders and regulators from around the world will address the summit, including the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
“In the past, exclusive licenses for specific frequency bands and specific purposes dominated spectrum allocation policy and regulations,” says Pakamile Kayakethu Pongwana, CEO of Icasa. “While these models are good for monetising the spectrum and for coordination between multiple services and operators to avoid interference, they often result in underutilization of spectrum.
“In the last decade, however, governments and regulators around the world have embraced the concept of ‘spectrum commons’ as another way to bring citizens innovation on new wireless technologies.”
