South Africa: ICASA Allocates U6 GHz Spectrum for Mobile Telecommunications

South Africa's digital trajectory gets a boost with U6 GHz spectrum allocation. On 24 July 2026, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) published the National Radio Frequency Plan 2026 (NRFP 2026), formally allocating the full U6 GHz band, 6 425MHz-7 125MHz, for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) use. This decision, which incorporates 700MHz of contiguous mid-band spectrum into the mobile communications framework, represents one of the most consequential regulatory milestones in the country's digital evolution. The attention now is on the implementation phase, including the draft Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plans (RFSAPs) currently open for public comment until early September. The NRFP 2026 emerged from an extensive public consultation process. ICASA engaged stakeholders through multiple rounds of written submissions and public hearings in January 2026, drawing contributions from mobile operators, industry bodies, spectrum users and other interested parties. The final designation of the entire U6 GHz band for IMT, alongside the integration of the 700MHz band into the mobile framework, was not reached lightly. It reflects a careful weighing of technical evidence, international consensus and the public interest. Communications Minister Solly Malatsi approved the plan on 2 July 2026, and the published framework now provides a clear strategic direction for the industry. ICASA's determination rests on three mutually reinforcing arguments. First, network usage realities in South Africa overwhelmingly favour mobile access. According to Statistics South Africa's General Household Survey 2025, 78.9% of households access the internet via mobile devices, compared with only 20.6% through fixed connections. In this context, IMT-based services offer the most direct and inclusive path to universal connectivity, circumventing the infrastructure constraints that hamper fixed networks. Second, the U6 GHz band represents one of the last large, contiguous mid-band blocks available globally. Mid-band spectrum serves balanced coverage and capacity for mobile networks, carrying the majority of both indoor and outdoor traffic. International forecasts indicate that countries will require substantially more mid-band capacity to meet the demands of 5G, 5G-Advanced and eventually IMT-2030 (6G) standards. Reserving this band for IMT helps avert a long-term capacity shortfall. Third, South Africa's mobile market is competitive and diverse, with multiple operators each holding limited mid-band allocations. For network operators, this allocation provides a degree of certainty that has been conspicuously absent in recent years. The contiguous nature of the U6 GHz band allows for efficient channel planning and network design, reducing the fragmentation that often complicates spectrum utilisation. Operators can now move from feasibility studies to licensing and rollout with a clear roadmap. The draft RFSAPs, open for comment until 4 September 2026, will further clarify the assignment mechanisms. This certainty encourages targeted investment in both coverage and capacity, enabling operators to manage growing data traffic more cost-effectively and to compete on service quality. For ordinary consumers, the benefits are tangible. The U6 GHz band is widely regarded as a foundational mid-band frequency for the 5G evolution to IMT 2030. Its 700MHz bandwidth supports single-user downlink speeds of 10Gbps and multi-carrier aggregation well beyond that threshold. For the end-user, this translates into faster downloads, seamless streaming of 8K ultra-high-definition video, and lag-free cloud gaming and XR experiences. More importantly, the allocation supports the emerging era of mobile AI and real-time multimodal interactions. As AI agents become more integrated into daily life, the network must support cloud-based assistants, real-time voice and intelligent responses without perceptible delay. The U6 GHz band provides the cap