ICASA said the reason for the review is to ensure that South Africa’s NRFP “reflects the final acts of the recent World Radio Conference of 2012 (WRC 12).” ICASA also wants to ensure the NRFP is in line with the international telecommunications’ latest version of radio regulations.
“The goal is also to ensure that it is consistent with the Southern African Development Community Frequency Allocation Plan (SADC FAP). This process is, among others, aimed at reviewing the existing NRFP to ensure that spectrum allocations reflect the usage of radio frequency until the next WRC in 2015,” said ICASA.
Following the ITU’s World Radio Conferences and in line with the WRC 12, ICASA will conduct the review parallel with the Frequency Migration Plan (FMP) process.
This is aimed at addressing the frequency migrations recognised throughout the evolution of earlier national radio frequency plans beginning with SABRE 1 of 1997.
The Authority added that in addition to the above, it will publish the second draft of the FMP on December 24. In the upcoming publication, ICASA will take the comments made in the initial submissions, public hearings and supplementary submissions into consideration.
The second publication will also include the framework for the “Spectrum Assignment Plan” development and “on the implementation of specific bands earmarked for migration and those identified in the future NRFP.”
