Published 18 October 2018, by Banele Ginindza, Business Report
JOHANNESBURG – AYO Technology Solutions (AYO), the largest black-empowered JSE-listed ICT group in the country, yesterday looked set to join the big wireless operators in bidding for a share of the licensing of spectrum in the 700MHz, 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands when they are put on auction by the end of March.
This follows Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele last week confirming that 4G spectrum would be put on the auction block to existing telecoms wireless operators as well as black economic empowerment participants.
Cwele said the government was working on a March 31 deadline to put up the 4G spectrum on auction, while it worked towards a 5G spectrum availability by 2020.
Icasa (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) spokesperson Palesa Maleka also confirmed that various options of disposing of the 4G/LTE technology were being looked at.
Wireless carriers such as Vodacom and MTN have frequently taken the government to task for lack of the sale of spectrum, which they claim hinders their growth.