This would then allow the regulator to play a role in determining what prices all licensed players will pay as opposed to having the regulator license spectrum to one dominant player.
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies on Wednesday presented cabinet with an information and communications technology white paper featuring proposals related to the expected release of more broadband spectrum, as well as suggestions on how to combat any monopolisation that may arise as a result.
Speaking on behalf of the department, Director-General Robert Nkuna vowed that they were committed to pushing for universal access to spectrum to ensure consumers can afford to communicate and that smaller players gain entry into the ICT sector.
“Recently, we have a situation whereby Cell C and Telkom have gone to the bigger [operators] to ask to use their infrastructure. So we have a situation where there are four companies that are supposed to be competing with each other, but then the smaller ones have less infrastructure and have to go to the bigger one,” said Nkuna.
According to Nkuna, the white paper proposed a policy in which open access is promoted, allowing the process to take on a wholesale form through the establishment of what they call “Wireless Open Access Network”. This would then allow the regulator to play a role in determining what prices all licensed players will pay, as opposed to having the regulator license spectrum to one dominant player thus allowing them to charge their own exclusive prices.
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