South Africa's Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) has approved the regulations on dynamic spectrum access and opportunistic spectrum use in the innovation spectrum bands 3800-4200 MHz and 5925-6425 MHz (the 2026 Innovation Spectrum Use Regulations). The regulations took effect on 22 May 2026.

What the regulations say

The regulations define innovation spectrum (IS) as unused radio frequencies within the 3800-4200 MHz and 5925-6425 MHz sub-bands.

The regulations also establish two categories of user terminal equipment for innovation spectrum:

1. ISER 1 — client devices permitted to operate within the innovation spectrum frequencies of the 3800-4200 MHz sub-band without an exclusive licence. Such equipment may communicate with an associated master device.

2. ISFR 2 — client devices permitted to operate within the innovation spectrum frequencies of the 5925-6425 MHz sub-band without an exclusive licence. Such equipment may obtain operating parameters (OP) from the unified spectrum switch (USS) and communicate with an associated master device.

In addition, the regulations define the category of innovation spectrum devices (ISD), set out the operating, technical and identification requirements for ISD, establish USS access requirements and IS access requirements, and describe measures to prevent harmful interference.

Note that ISD do not require an exclusive licence. However, within the ISFR 1 (MinLA) framework, the geographic area covered by a single authorised ISD network, or a combination of two or three adjacent MinLAs, may still form a licensed area. In the cases set out in the regulations, network operators must pay IS licence fees to the authority in order to access the IS. IS spectrum licences are valid for up to three years and may be renewed where spectrum is available at the designated geographic location.