Icasa postpones auction for high-speed spectrum

SOUTH Africa’s telecoms regulator has postponed an auction of more than $1 billion (R13.67bn) of high-speed broadband spectrum to May in the face of fierce government opposition. The sale process has been moved from January, in a revised plan by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). Icasa also eased requirements for black ownership of bidding companies, intended to help those discriminated against during apartheid. Icasa plans to refund winners of the auction if the sale then has to be cancelled following legal action planned by the government. The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services is against the sale, arguing that South Africa’s biggest phone companies, including MTN Group and Vodacom Group, will benefit at the expense of smaller competitors. – Bloomberg