NEW RADIO SPECTRUM RE-PLANNING PROJECT

PRESS RELEASE BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

17 JANUARY 1996

1. Introduction

The Department of Posts and Telecommunications is commencing a review of radio spectrum usage between the frequencies 20 MHz and 3 GHz. This will lead to a nationally agreed frequency band plan for the future. The project is known as Project SABRE (South African Band Re-planning Exercise).

The radio frequency spectrum is a national asset and a scarce resource. The exercise aims to ensure that the limited spectrum available is utilised and managed in an efficient and effective manner, and in a way which is in the interests of all South Africans and is consistent with international developments.

The work is being undertaken by the Department of Posts and Telecommunications together with an international team of consultants, led by UK-based Smith System Engineering and including the UK Radiocommunications Agency and the CSIR in South Africa.

2. Importance of the project

Project SABRE will result in a nationally agreed frequency band plan which will define how the radio spectrum is to be used in the future. The radio spectrum is utilised by a wide range of systems and services, which are either already being used or will in future be used by almost every person in South Africa.

Many different types of systems and services utilise the radio spectrum. The following is only a small selection of these:

• Telephone services to rural areas and disadvantaged communities;
• television and radio broadcasts (for example by SABC);
• mobile radio systems used by commercial organisations;
• emergency communications by the police, fire and ambulance services, etc.;
• cellular radios, cordless telephones and pagers;
• satellites (for telecommunications and broadcasting);
• alarm systems, remote control devices, etc.

The radio spectrum is not currently being utilised as efficiently and effectively as it could be. This has a number of implications:

• There is congestion and interference in some frequency bands;
• opportunities for the introduction of new technologies and services are restricted;
• users are not able to obtain as many frequencies as they would like;
• there are costs to business in terms of operational efficiency and equipment costs.

Project SABRE aims to produce a frequency band plan for the future that will make effective use of the scarce resource that is the radio frequency spectrum.

This will be done in a way that will benefit all South Africans and will aid the social and economic development of the country.

There are thus a wide range of benefits that may result from Project SABRE and the frequency band plan that is produced. The following are some examples:

• Enabling the provision of telephone services to communities that do not at present have any telecommunications;
• making more efficient use of the spectrum so that more users are able to benefit from it;
• providing opportunities for the use of advanced broadcasting technologies which will enable higher quality and wider ranging broadcasts;
• improving the quality of service for existing users;
• enabling businesses to operate more effectively;
• generation of additional revenue for the country.

3. Contact details

The SABRE team will be consulting widely over the coming months. If you have views to contribute and would be willing to complete a questionnaire, please fax your name, address, fax and telephone number to the address below before 2 February 1996.

Project SABRE Department of Posts and Telecommunications Private Bag X860 Pretoria 0001 Fax: (012)319-8138