South Africa Allocates 700MHz Spectrum to Mobile Operators
South Africa has allocated 700MHz spectrum to its mobile operators, a band widely associated with extended rural coverage and improved indoor penetration. The assignment reshapes the country's mobile broadband competitive landscape and represents a significant signal for operators and infrastructure investors.
6GHz Spectrum: South Africa just picked a side in a global fight — and it's the mobile operators' side
The entire upper 6GHz band — 700MHz of high-capacity radio frequencies that the world's telecoms industry has been fighting over — now belongs to South Africa's mobile networks, not Wi-Fi.
That's a real call. The US gave the whole 6GHz band to Wi-Fi. China reserved it all for mobile. South Africa has split it down the middle, lower half for Wi-Fi, upper half for cellular — landing closest to where Europe is heading.
But the band isn't empty. It's full of microwave links and satellite connections that will have to move or be accommodated before a single 5G signal can run through it. The feasibility study Icasa has promised will decide whether this is a genuine spectrum unlock or a long regulatory queue dressed up as a decision.
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- South Africa’s mobile operators strike spectrum gold · techcentral.co.za · T2