The “preliminary” deadline is contained in the policy document on next-generation radio frequency spectrum for economic development, which was published in the Government Gazette on Tuesday 28 May 2024.
According to the new plan (and its preliminary deadlines):
- Communications regulator ICASA must stop approving 2G- and 3G-only devices (mainly cellphones) by no later than 30 September 2024.
- The prohibition of type approval will mean that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will no longer type-approve new 2G and 3G-only devices.
- However, those already approved in South Africa can still legally be imported and sold locally.
- Network operators, in turn, must stop activating 2G- and 3G- only devices by 31 December 2024, meaning that from January 2025, no devices that are not capable of at least connecting to a 4G/LTE network may be added to their networks. When this deadline hits, mobile network operators in the country will no longer activate such devices on their networks.
- Network operators must then commence with a shutdown of their legacy 2G and 3G infrastructure from 1 June 2025, it is unclear which will go first.
- A total shutdown of 2G and 3G networks must be completed by no later than 31 December 2027.
- The sequencing for sunsetting of 2G and 3G networks and their related dates will be determined by the Authority subject to conducting an economic and regulatory impact assessment
- The dates depend on a risk impact assessment study to be published within a year of the final publication of the next-generation radio frequency spectrum policy.
Sunset of 2G and 3G Networks
The following section provides preliminary dates for the sunset of 2G and 3G Networks.
The sequencing for sunsetting of 2G and 3G networks and their related dates will be determined by the Authority subject to conducting an economic and regulatory impact assessment.
(a) The prohibition of type approval of 2G and 3G only devices – 30 September 2024.
(b) Prohibition of activation of 2G and 3G only devices on networks - 31 December 2024.
(c) Commencement for the shutdown of 2G and 3G services - 01 June 2025.
(d) Total shutdown of 2G and 3G networks - 31 December 202
4G and 5G
Next-generation technologies like 5G are swiftly being rolled out. Population coverage for 5G was at 20% in 2022; by 2023 it had surged to more than 38%, evidence of the telecommunications sector’s determination to drive the digital economy.
Meanwhile, 4G/LTE now has population coverage of 98.8%, which can easily service domestic and small business usage requirements like work-from-home, content streaming and other digital services.
With 5G, more advanced applications are made possible.
For example, some network operators have already launched initiatives such as 5G-enabled smart mining. This implements solutions like proximity detection, remote monitoring, and even autonomous vehicles to enhance mining efficiency and safety.
ICASA has scheduled a meeting on the 10/06/2024 and we await the Authorities decision concerning the Type Approval of 5G NR technology devices.