One of the hottest debates in South Africa today revolves around 6GHz spectrum, particularly its allocation for either Wi-Fi or 5G services. Communications regulator Icasa has already opened the lower unlicensed 6GHz band (5.925GHz to 6.425GHz) for indoor, low-power WiFi use - a commendable step.
Subsequently, in June this year, Icasa published a request for information seeking submissions from all incumbent users of this band. This was a first step towards creating an automated frequency coordination (AFC) database that will allow spectrum sharing and co-existence between the incumbents and unlicensed users, opening the door for using this frequency band in an outdoor environment.
However, the more contentious issue lies with the upper 6GHz band, which has sparked a fierce battle between proponents of unlicensed Wi-Fi and advocates for 5G.
Globally, 5G roll-outs have yielded few success stories. Hyped as the technology that would revolutionise the world and everything from self-driving cars to remote surgery, the reality has fallen far short. These grand visions have proven to be little more than pipe dreams, making 5G perhaps the biggest white elephant in telecommunications history.
The term "white elephant" originates from Asia, where such rare animals were seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity because they were expensive to maintain and had little practical use. Similarly, 5G has become a costly endeavour with limited tangible benefits. Ask any user of the latest Samsung or Apple smartphones how 5G has changed their lives, and you're likely to be met with blank expressions.
