Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005)ICASANotice regarding Final Radio Frequency Assignment Plans for the Frequency Band 440 to 450 MHz in terms of Regulation 3 of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations, 20152. Purpose |
| 2.1 | This Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plan (RFSAP) provides information on the requirements attached to the use of a frequency band in line with the allocation and other information in the National Radio Frequency Plan (NRFP). This information includes technical characteristics of radio systems, frequency channelling, coordination, and details on required migration of existing users of the band and the expected method of assignment. |
| 2.2 | This RFSAP states the requirements for the utilization of the frequency band 440 MHz - 450 MHz. The latest National Radio Frequency Plan 2021 aligns the allocation of this frequency band with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) table with primary allocations to Fixed and Mobile. In this latest plan, too, there is an additional primary allocation for SPACE OPERATION (Earth-to-space) and SPACE RESEARCH (Earth-to-space) in South Africa. |
| 2.3 | The Authority resolved the following in the Radio Frequency Migration Plan 20191 |
| 2.3.1 | A feasibility study into the possibility to use the band 440 MHz – 450 MHz for Public Protection and Disaster Recovery (PPDR) is to be performed. |
| 2.3.2 | A Radio Frequency Assignment Plan is to be developed. |
| 2.3.3 | The proposed allocations for this band are Short Range Business Radio and Public Mobile Radio (PMR2) services only. The band should be cleared of all other users. Communal repeaters can be allocated in this band. |
| 2.4 | Therefore, a feasibility study was carried out concerning the 440-450 MHz band3 as mandated by the 20194 Radio Frequency migration plan. |
| 2.5 | However, at the conclusion of the feasibility study into this band5, the Authority has concluded the following: |
| 2.5.1 | The Authority concludes that its thinking on this band at this stage is that there is a high risk of leading to more inefficient use of this spectrum band if it proceeds with a PPDR allocation and subsequent PPDR-based RFSAP. This is because the Authority has seen little to no evidence of a PPDR ecosystem emerging in this band as for other bands like 410-430 MHz and 450-470 MHz as was envisaged five years to a decade ago, and there is a strong case for maintaining the status quo and taking a longer-term outlook watching brief (i.e., > 3 years) for the band. |
| 2.5.2 | The Authority will also closely watch the activities happening in 446- 446.2 MHz on Analogue and Digital PMR6 to make any further decisions given developments in Europe. |
| 2.6 | So, the intention of this RFSAP is to leave the band as it is today. The most recent ITU and Southern African Development Community (SADC) allocations are shown in Tables 1 and 2 for completeness. |
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| 1 | ICASA. 2019. Radio Frequency Migration Plan 2019. Government Gazette No 42337, 29 March 2019. |
| 2 | Some key technical parameters for 446-446.1 MHz band short range devices (SRD) are listed in: Regulations in Respect of Licence Exemptions, Government Gazette No 31290 (Notice 926 of 2008), 29 July 2008. |
| 3 | Implementation of the Radio Frequency Migration Plan and the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Roadmap for public consultation, Government Gazette No. 45690, 24 December 2021. |
| 4 | ICASA. 2019. Radio Frequency Migration Plan 2019. Government Gazette No 42337, 29 March 2019. |
| 5 | Implementation of the Radio Frequency Migration Plan and the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Roadmap for public consultation, Government Gazette No. 45690, 24 December 2021. |
| 6 | EN 303 405 Analogue and Digital PMR446 Equipment |
| 7 | SADC Radio Frequency Spectrum Allocation Plan (SADC RFSAP) 8.3 kHz – 3000 GHz, Edition 2021, https://assets.website-files.com/5fb8ce4adbd6ad2ccc1423e7/612fe72be15121775ae6a121_2021%20SADC%20RADIO%20FRE QUENCY%20SPECTRUM%20ALLOCATION%20PLAN.%20docx%5B1%5D.pdf |