S.Africa’s telecoms regulator halts spectrum licensing auction

JOHANNESBURG: South African telecoms regulator ICASA said on Tuesday it would comply with a court order and halt a long-delayed spectrum licensing auction after failing to reach a settlement with mobile operators.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) was prohibited in March from proceeding with the auction, pending a hearing on contentions raised by telecoms operators Telkom and MTN as well as broadcaster e.tv.

ICASA had said it would appeal the court order while seeking an out-of-court settlement with the litigants.