The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) says four bidders have shown interest in securing the spectrums that are being auctioned off to be used for 4G and 5G services.
The four bidders comprise of Loc8 Mobile (Pty) Ltd, Mobile Telecommunications Limited, Paratus Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd, and Telecom Namibia Limited, and are bidding for the spectrum bands 700 MHz and 800 MHz.
The spectrum licence is valid for 10 years and is subject to renewal for a similar period or even cancelled or transferred in relation to the regulations.
The licensees shall utilise the assigned frequencies specified to provide international mobile services (IMT) maintaining a downlink data speed of not less than 20 Mbps and in compliance with the Quality-of-Service Regulations.
“The licensee shall utilise the assigned frequencies specified to provide 4G and 5G mobile services in accordance with the frequency channeling plans gazetted for the spectrum bands assigned. The utilisation of assigned spectrum to provide 2G or 3G services is strictly prohibited,” CRAN said in a tender report.
CRAN highlighted that its primary and legislative objective is to promote competition in the telecommunications sector through efficient spectrum management.
“To this end, the Authority adopted a holistic approach in determining a roadmap for the release of spectrum for the period 2022-2024. This was designed to provide licensees with regulatory certainty on which spectrum will be made available for assignment to facilitate the rollout of telecommunications and broadcasting networks and implementation of emerging technologies, platforms, and applications to the benefit of the end user. Information and Communication Technology networks and services play a vital role in the socio-economic development and digital transformation of Namibia,” CRAN said.
The auctioning will allow for the implementation of new technologies to promote innovation and availability of a wide array of high-quality services to all Namibians as per the objects of the Communications Act and national development plans, and also ensure access to broadband networks as per the targets set out in the National Broadband Policy.
“This will further ensure that the spectrum is utilised to provide broadband services in unserved and underserved areas at prescribed broadband speeds and quality of service minimum parameters. In addition, it will foster digital transformation beyond the delivery of broadband, through implementation of e-education, e-health, e-agriculture, e-government, and other use cases to realise the true benefits of new technologies.”
The spectrum licence is subject to terms and conditions, and once awarded a licensee shall not confer any ownership rights of the frequencies indicated on the spectrum licence certificate, but only grant the licensee a right to use the spectrum assigned subject to these conditions.
It further allows the authorises the licensee to utilise the frequencies specified on the spectrum licence certificate within the borders of the Republic of Namibia or any part thereof, and the Authority may amend the spectrum licence if it finds that the spectrum is not used in accordance with the conditions attached to the licence and re-assign unused spectrum to another licensee following due regulatory process.
“In respect of the 700 MHz band, the authorisation is subject to the sharing of spectrum with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in the following sites: Gibeon (762 MHz), Shamvura (786 MHz), Andara (754 MHz) and Nkurenkuru (730 MHz) until 30 June 2024.”
CRAN thus advised licensees to be awarded spectrum in the 700 MHz spectrum band to engage the NBC to prevent interference.
This comes as CRAN has lowered requirements for the 5G spectrum re-auctioning, following the unsuccessful initial bidding in May.
The adjustments aim to address the challenges faced by operators and encourage their participation in the implementation of the 5G spectrum across the country.
