Satellite Licensing Framework submissions
2026 Licensing Framework Submissions
On 15 May 2026, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ("the Authority") published the Draft Amendment to the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations, 2015, and the Draft Amendment to the Radio Frequency Spectrum Fees Regulations, 2010, in Government Gazette No. 54677 under Notices 3927 and 3926, respectively.
The notices invited interested parties to submit written representations on the draft amendment regulations by no later than 16h00 on 29 June 2026. The Authority received 24 submissions by the prescribed deadline. Two submissions, from Hughes and the MDDA, were received less than two hours after the deadline, and the respective parties were informed accordingly. Following consideration of their requests for condonation, the Authority resolved to accept the late submissions for consideration alongside the submissions received within the prescribed timeframe.
Published Notice Draft Amendments
Submissions
2024 Licensing Framework Submissions
On 14 August 2024, the Authority published the consultation on the proposed New Licensing Framework for Satellite Services in Government Gazette No. 51044 (“Inquiry”) and stakeholders were expected to submit written representations by the 12th November 2024.
The purpose of the Inquiry is to:
- Determine a regulatory and/or licensing framework for Satellite Services in South Africa;
- Determine the procedures that the Authority may implement for the provision of satellite services in South Africa;
- Determine procedures for authorising user terminals, IoT terminals, earth station user terminals communicating with space station while in motion (ESIM/ESV), and ground earth stations in the South African territory.
- Consider the need to review spectrum fees, taking also into account the increasing amount of bandwidth used by satellite systems operating in higher frequency bands.
- Determine procedures for registration of international satellite operators (including details of International Telecommunications Union (“ITU”) coordination status of the space segment) who intend to provide a service either directly or indirectly (through existing licensed operators) to South African consumers.