Telecommunications minister, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says South Africans may in future want to license the use of WiFi, at least in some parts of the country. And regulator the Independent Communications Authority of SA must keep looking at the possibility of doing so, later if not sooner.
Ntshavheni recently published the “Next Generation Radio Frequency Spectrum Policy for Economic Development” for a 30-day period of public comment. It proposes a fundamental overhaul of the way the limited spectrum used by the likes of mobile phones and WiFi devices is treated.
Those who use free-for-all, unlicensed spectrum – and so do not benefit from protection against interference – should not pay for its use, according to the document. Short-range consumer connections, such as WiF, fall into that group. But perhaps they should not, the draft policy holds.
“With the rapid growth of WiFi in complementing and off-loading mobile data traffic from fixed broadband, the Regulator must continuously consider and review more protection of spectrum use for WiFi services, including possible licensing and permits,” it reads.
It also calls on the telecommunications minister to “from time to time consider incentives to stimulate investment for WiFi deployments in poor areas that facilitate access to financing and/or funding, and access to spectrum for use or share.”
At the same time, the draft policy calls on Icasa to “support the advancement of WiFi technology as a broadband connectivity option in unlicensed or license exempt spectrum bands” via unspecified “measures and options”, while considering spectrum allocation for new – as opposed to existing – WiFi technologies.
Free basic data for indigent and ‘other qualifying beneficiaries’
Earlier this year, Ntshavheni’s department floated the idea of providing 10GB of data per month, for free, to all South Africans, “rich or poor.
The new spectrum approach builds in free basic data, but not necessarily on a universal basis. Nor does it stick to the 10GB promise.
Instead, the draft policy says the telecommunications minister must implement regulatory changes “to facilitate for indigent households of citizens and other qualifying beneficiaries”, which will be specified in future regulations, “to receive a monthly allocation of free basic data.”
Regulator Icasa will have one year from the adoption of the policy to figure out how spectrum can be allocated to community networks, who will then be required to make free basic data available to those who qualify
Main Image: IOL
