ICASA: South Africa U6 GHz Spectrum Allocation Finalized for IMT

• ICASA published the National Radio Frequency Plan 2026 on July 24, 2026, formally allocating the full U6 GHz band (6425MHz-7125MHz) for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) use.
• This allocation incorporates 700MHz of contiguous mid-band spectrum, a decision approved by Communications Minister Solly Malatsi on July 2, 2026.
• The NRFP 2026 emerged from extensive public consultation and was justified by ICASA based on South Africa's mobile access prevalence, the global scarcity of contiguous mid-band spectrum, and benefits for the competitive mobile market.
• The U6 GHz band provides regulatory certainty for network operators, enabling efficient channel planning, targeted investment in coverage and capacity, and improved competition.
• For consumers, this 5G spectrum allocation promises faster downloads, seamless 8K video streaming, lag-free cloud gaming, and robust support for mobile AI and real-time multimodal interactions.

The allocation of the U6 GHz band offers a significant degree of regulatory certainty for network operators, a factor that has been notably absent in recent years within South Africa's competitive and diverse mobile market.

South Africa's telecommunications landscape recently saw a significant development with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) formally allocating the full U6 GHz band for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) use. This crucial decision was announced on July 24, 2026, through the publication of the National Radio Frequency Plan 2026 (NRFP 2026). The allocation specifically covers the 6425MHz-7125MHz range, integrating a substantial 700MHz of contiguous mid-band spectrum into the nation's mobile communications framework.

This move is considered a pivotal regulatory milestone for the country's digital evolution, setting a clear strategic direction for the industry. Communications Minister Solly Malatsi had approved the plan earlier, on July 2, 2026, paving the way for its official release. With this foundational spectrum now designated, attention shifts to the implementation phase, which includes the draft Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plans (RFSAPs) currently undergoing a public comment period until September 4, 2026.

The finalisation of the NRFP 2026 was the culmination of an extensive and inclusive public consultation process. ICASA actively engaged a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including mobile operators, various industry bodies, existing spectrum users, and other interested parties. This engagement involved multiple rounds of written submissions and public hearings conducted in January 2026, ensuring diverse perspectives were considered. The decision to designate the entire U6 GHz band for IMT, alongside the integration of the 700MHz band, was not made lightly, reflecting a careful balance of technical evidence, alignment with international consensus, and the broader public interest.

ICASA's determination was underpinned by three mutually reinforcing arguments. Firstly, the prevailing network usage patterns in South Africa strongly indicate a preference for mobile access. Data from Statistics South Africa's General Household Survey 2025 reveals that a significant 78.9% of households access the internet via mobile devices, in stark contrast to only 20.6% using fixed connections. This reality positions IMT-based services as the most direct and inclusive pathway to achieving universal connectivity, effectively circumventing the infrastructure limitations often associated with fixed networks.

Secondly, the U6 GHz band stands out globally as one of the last remaining large, contiguous blocks of mid-band spectrum. Mid-band frequencies are critical for mobile networks, offering a balanced combination of coverage and capacity, and handling the majority of both indoor and outdoor data traffic. International forecasts consistently project a substantial increase in demand for mid-band capacity to support the evolving requirements of 5G, 5G-Advanced, and future IMT-2030 (6G) standards. By reserving this band for IMT, South Africa aims to proactively avert a potential long-term capacity shortfall.

The allocation of the U6 GHz band offers a significant degree of regulatory certainty for network operators, a factor that has been notably absent in recent years within South Africa's competitive and diverse mobile market, where multiple operators currently hold limited mid-band allocations. The contiguous nature of the newly allocated 6 GHz band facilitates more efficient channel planning and network design, thereby reducing the fragmentation that frequently complicates spectrum utilisation. This clarity empowers operators to confidently transition from feasibility studies to the crucial stages of licensing and rollout, armed with a well-defined roadmap.

This newfound certainty is expected to stimulate targeted investment in both network coverage and capacity, enabling operators to manage the ever-growing volume of data traffic more cost-effectively and to compete more effectively on service quality. For ordinary consumers across South Africa, the benefits of this 5G spectrum allocation are tangible and far-reaching. The U6 GHz band is widely recognised as a foundational mid-band frequency crucial for the evolution of 5G towards IMT 2030. Its generous 700MHz bandwidth is capable of supporting single-user downlink speeds of 10Gbps and facilitating multi-carrier aggregation well beyond that threshold.

Ultimately, this translates into a superior user experience, including significantly faster downloads, seamless streaming of 8K ultra-high-definition video content, and lag-free experiences for cloud gaming and extended reality (XR) applications. Crucially, the allocation also underpins the emerging era of mobile artificial intelligence and real-time multimodal interactions. As AI agents become increasingly integrated into daily life, the network must be robust enough to support cloud-based assistants, real-time voice commands, and intelligent responses without any perceptible delay, a capability that the U6 GHz band is poised to deliver.

Lawyers advising telecommunications clients should note the finalisation of the U6 GHz spectrum allocation, providing regulatory certainty for network planning and investment. They should also monitor the ongoing public comment period for the draft Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plans (RFSAPs) as these will clarify assignment mechanisms and impact future licensing and rollout strategies.

Source: Original reporting via industry sources