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Release of spectrum should be settled out of court – Ndabeni-Abrahams The minister said litigation over spectrum and the licensing of WOAN – the wireless open access network – was hobbling South Africa’s economic recovery. FILE: Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
CAPE TOWN - Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said legal battles over the release of what s called spectrum should be settled out of court.
She told Parliament on Tuesday the litigation was holding back the country’s economic recovery.
“Spectrum, like the land question in South Africa, is a highly contested space…”
The minister said litigation over spectrum and the licensing of WOAN – the wireless open access network – was hobbling South Africa’s economic recovery.
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The Department of Communications has finalised a Digital Economy Masterplan that could see an economic contribution upwards of 4.5% of GDP per annum, the creation of one million jobs over the next ten years, and create massive opportunities for SMMEs .
It further set a goal of one million jobs in the next decade.
But, said Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, ongoing delays in finalising the spectrum auction are a stumbling block.
Legal challenges to the spectrum auction and licensing of Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN) could leave the SA economy even worse off instead of recovering, Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has said.
Government ready to expand 5G and fibre to all South Africans, minister says 18 May 2021 - 20:02
Communications and digital technologies minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on Tuesday announced that R27bn had been pledged collectively by operators and vendors to expand the 4G network and to deploy 5G and fibre in SA.
“This network expansion is extending to rural and underserved areas, which will benefit communities and create jobs. As such, I hope that the licensing of the Wireless Open Access Network and the High-Demand Spectrum will complement these rollout plans,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.
Speaking during the tabling of her R3.7bn budget vote for the 2021/2022 financial year, the minister said the government envisaged connecting 80% of public buildings by 2024.
The report found that 15 years of spectrum withholding harmed consumers, particularly the poor, and that failed digital migration meant that even after the delayed spectrum auction, carriers would be unable to fully use the 700 and 800 MHz “digital dividend” spectrum until 2023.