There may finally be a practical solution to South Africa's digital divide. After years of planning, testing, and technical testing, dynamic spectrum sharing has moved from regulatory theory to a proven solution, taking off faster than many in the industry anticipated.
In late January 2026, stakeholders gathered in KwaZulu-Natal to witness the culmination of field trials that could fundamentally reshape the way millions of South Africans access the internet.
The successful deployment of 5G networks using dynamically allocated spectrum in both Ntuzuma and iXopo has demonstrated something the industry has been pursuing for more than a decade: a reliable, cost-effective route to bringing high-speed internet to underserved and rural communities.
The implications are massive. We are not talking about incremental improvements to existing infrastructure. This is a paradigm shift in how spectrum – the most valuable and scarce resource in wireless communications – can be dynamically shared to maximize its utility and reach.
How we got here – and remarkably quickly
Having worked for years with Icasa on spectrum initiatives, I can tell you: this level of speed and efficiency is unprecedented. The regulator deserves huge credit for taking this technology from concept to field-tested reality in record time.
The journey began with TV whitespace trials, funded by a $1 million grant from the US, which were conducted by the Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPAA) under an Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) testing license. Although those trials were interrupted by COVID-19, they laid the necessary groundwork.
Shortly after the pandemic, Icasa opened up TV whitespace as unlicensed spectrum and then published its intention to enable Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) in two critical bands: the lower 6GHz range (5.925-6.425GHz) and the 3.8-4.2GHz band.
The technical heavy lifting fell to CSIR, with lead researcher Professor Lujangu Mfupe designing the Universal Access Spectrum Switch – the database that enables radios to operate without interfering with fixed satellite services sharing the same spectrum. Mfup, who also designed the TV Whitespace secondary geolocation database, brought deep expertise to ensure that the system could work not just in theory, but in the real world.
The field trials were led by Icasa Councilor Thabisa Faye herself, with support from Icasa's technical and field teams. Two Wireless Internet Service Providers (Wisps) – Adnotes, led by Executive Chairman Nkosinathi Mbele, and AfricaITA, represented by Leadup Solutions Director Njabulo Hadebe, installed and operated the test network.
what the tests proved
The two-day stakeholder site visit in January took place during what locals described as the two hottest, most humid days in recorded regional history. Despite the circumstances, the technology exceeded expectations.
At both sites, 5G radios operating in the 3.8-4.2GHz band provided download speeds of up to 200Mbit/s directly to compatible cellular handsets and 5G routers. The network achieved coverage at a distance of more than 4 kilometers, and achieved remarkable results in non-line-of-sight conditions – the traditional nemesis of WiFi transmission. Backhaul came from Link Africa at Ntuzuma and OpenServe at iXoppo, demonstrating interoperability with existing infrastructure.
The performance gain compared to traditional WiFi at 5.8GHz was dramatic. Where 5.8GHz suffers from high noise floors due to interference and requires clear line of sight, the dynamically allocated spectrum was pristine – no competing signals, excellent range, remarkable throughput. The trial included both fixed 5G routers serving homes via direct-to-handset connections and WiFi, with residents reporting satisfaction with the quality of their service.
Critically, this is the first time that dynamic spectrum has been used direct-to-device in South Africa, as opposed to TV whitespace which requires point-to-multipoint links. It's essentially creating wireless hotspots with the performance characteristics of 5G, but without the infrastructure costs or licensing complexity of traditional cellular deployments.
Why does spectrum sharing change everything?
Spectrum is the lifeblood of wireless Internet service providers. Without it, we simply cannot function. But spectrum is limited, and its allocation has historically been based on technologies and use cases from decades ago.
The challenge is that spectrum allocated for specific purposes is often underutilized, especially in rural areas where old license holders have not deployed services. Meanwhile, communities that desperately need connectivity don't have access to the spectrum that can serve them.
Dynamic spectrum sharing solves this by enabling secondary use of spectrum that would otherwise lie idle. The spectrum switch continuously monitors the base station radio to protect primary users (such as satellite services) and allocate available capacity to secondary users (such as Wisps serving rural communities) in real time. It's beautiful, efficient and makes the most of our scarce wireless resources.
According to recent data, there are still millions of people in South Africa without reliable internet access, especially in rural areas where fiber deployment is economically unviable and cellular data is prohibitively expensive for daily use. Dynamic spectrum sharing offers a third path: fast, stable broadband at a cost that makes rural deployments sustainable for service providers and affordable for communities.
Opportunities for service providers
This is a monumental moment for Wisps and other wireless service providers. The clean spectrum in the 3.8-4.2GHz and lower 6GHz bands, combined with the performance characteristics demonstrated in tests, opens up possibilities that did not exist before.
Radio equipment for the lower 6GHz band is already widely available globally.
Equipment for the 3.8-4.2GHz band exists and will be adapted to local specifications once Icasa publishes final technical requirements. The technology is mature, tested and ready for deployment.
Beyond the consumer Internet, applications extend to private 5G networks for mission-critical operations – think open-cast mining operations where security systems require absolute reliability and minimal latency, or campus networks for universities and corporate facilities. Globally, we are seeing similar deployments of what is known as the N77 band; South Africa now has a regulatory pathway to enable similar capabilities.
For Wisps specifically, this represents the spectrum access we need to scale operations into previously inaccessible markets. The economics work out eventually. The regulatory framework is emerging. The technology is proven.
what happens next
The KwaZulu-Natal trials have provided Icasa with real-world performance data, intervention analysis and operational validation. The regulator now has everything it needs to finalize the rules for commercial deployment.
Given the speed and efficiency that Icasa has demonstrated throughout this process – which I cannot emphasize enough, this is the fastest we have seen of any spectrum initiative – we are optimistic that commercial authorization can come within months rather than years.
Service providers are not waiting. We are already preparing our networks, planning deployment, and ensuring we are ready to go as soon as the rules are gazetted. The technical base is solid. The business case is clear. The social impact – bringing meaningful connectivity to underserved communities – is profound.
It is not just about opening new spectrum. It's about fundamentally rethinking how we use the spectrum we have, making it work harder and reach further. For a country where lack of connectivity is still holding millions of people back, this change couldn't come at a better time.
The digital divide in South Africa has always been primarily an economic problem presented as a technology problem. Dynamic spectrum sharing changes the economics. That's why it matters.
That is why it is a success. And that's why, after years of work by CSIR, Icasa and industry partners, we are finally on the cusp of something truly transformative.
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