The Independent Telecommunications Authority of SA (Icasa) said on 17 March that its auction of spectrum – the government-controlled airwaves that are licensed to mobile phone companies – raised R14.4bn. MTN had spent R5.2bn, and Vodacom R5.38bn (73% of the total raised). The allocation of spectrum has been delayed by more than 10 years.

The first round of the auction raised R2.65bn, with Rain spending R1.15bn, and Telkom R1.5bn. Icasa indicated that the amount raised would go to the national fiscus.

MTN group CEO Ralph Mupita said, “Securing this high-demand spectrum is critical in positioning MTN SA, the second-largest operation in the MTN Group, for sustained and profitable growth into the future.”

“This was our inaugural radio frequency spectrum auction, and we are really grateful to have reached this stage without any hassles and challenges from the first day of the actual auction to date. This shows SA’s capability as an investment-friendly destination,” said Icasa chairperson Keabetswe Modimoeng.

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