SPECTRUM ACCESS, MANAGEMENT & INNOVATION: NEW REGULATIONS GAZETTED

SPECTRUM ACCESS, MANAGEMENT & INNOVATION: NEW REGULATIONS GAZETTED

• 25 May 2026
• Communications & Digital Technologies
• SA Legal Academy

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has gazetted regulations on dynamic spectrum access and opportunistic spectrum management in the innovation spectrum frequency ranges 3800-4200 MHz and 5925-6425 MHz. Released in draft form in March 2025 for public comment, the new regulations are not yet in force.  

However, once operationalised, among other things they are expected to:

• ‘expand broadband access to the rural, underserved, remote communities’
• ‘reduce barriers to entry and promote equitable access to spectrum’
• ‘encourage spectrum sharing in a dynamic and opportunistic manner’
• ‘foster innovation in network deployment use cases, applications and services’
• ‘establish a non-market-based, non-competitive innovation spectrum authorisation framework’, and
• ‘mitigate against harmful interference between … registered incumbents and … secondary user(s)’ in the innovation spectrum space.

By addressing these issues, it is anticipated that the new regulations will facilitate ‘broader participation from non-dominant players’ – including small, micro and medium enterprises and community network operators.

• regulations

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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