Spectrum policy to be issued in the next few days

25th July 2019 By: Natasha Odendaal - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Spectrum policy to be issued in the next few days

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
Photo by: Creamer Media's Dylan Slater

Cabinet has approved the latest iteration of the long-awaited Policy and Policy Direction for the Licensing of the High Demand Spectrum.

It is expected that Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams will, within the next few days, issue the Cabinet-approved final policy and brief the media.

The imminent issuance followed extensive consultations with the sector and the public, it was revealed in a post-Cabinet meeting statement on Thursday.

“The Policy and Policy Direction sets a framework for the transformation of the sector by enabling the entrance of new players in this important market while, at the same time, encouraging investments and innovation,” the statement read.

After her department’s Budget Vote earlier this month, Ndabeni-Abrahams promised the delivery of the policy to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa within seven working days. The department issued a statement on July 19, stating that the policy had been finalised.

President Cyril Ramaphosa promised in his June State of the Nation Address that the policy would be published within a month.