ICASA Issues Revised Draft IMT Roadmap for Public Comment

Posted 18 December 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Communications & Digital Technologies

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has released a revised draft roadmap for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) for public consultation, following an initial draft published in September 2024.

In terms of the Electronic Communications Act, No. 36 of 2005, ICASA is mandated to manage the national radio frequency spectrum. The revised draft roadmap serves as a strategic document to support long-term spectrum planning and sets out the Authority’s approach towards assigning radio frequency spectrum for mobile services. Interested stakeholders are invited to submit written representations on the revised draft by no later than 16 February 2025.

The roadmap is intended to provide a clear regulatory path for the deployment of high-speed mobile broadband and next-generation technologies. It incorporates feedback from the first round of public comments and is underpinned by South Africa’s international obligations to harmonise spectrum usage. The primary objectives of the revised draft include:

  • Ensuring the efficient and effective use of the radio frequency spectrum;
  • Facilitating the introduction of new mobile services and technologies;
  • Providing a predictable timeline for the assignment of specific frequency bands; and
  • Aligning South Africa’s spectrum management with global and regional standards.

The document outlines the technical criteria and the proposed bands to be prioritised for IMT services, which are essential for the expansion of 4G, 5G, and future mobile network capabilities across the country.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligation; however, professionals in the regulatory and ICT sectors should note the 16 February 2025 deadline for submissions to ensure their professional expertise is reflected in the final regulatory framework.
  • For your business: Firms in the telecommunications and technology sectors must evaluate the proposed spectrum assignment timelines to align their long-term infrastructure investment strategies and capital expenditure with the availability of new frequency bands.
  • For your clients: Clients operating as Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) or technology service providers should be advised to submit detailed technical comments on the specific frequency bands and assignment criteria to mitigate the risk of unfavourable spectrum allocation in the final roadmap.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/international-mobile-telecommunications-revised-draft-roadmap-out-for-comment

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