ICASA announces the opening of the licensing process to issue Community Sound Broadcasting Service licences and related Radio Frequency Spectrum Licences

* The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) processes applications for approval of telecommunications and radio equipment. Wireless communication equipment exported to the South African market also needs to apply for type certification from ICASA and must pass the review before it can be sold.

In August this year, ICASA, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, informed that applications for community audio broadcasting services would be reopened in December 2024. ICASA announces the opening of the licensing process to issue Community Sound Broadcasting Service licences and related Radio Frequency Spectrum Licences.

The content covers the following document information:

- Standard Terms And Conditions Regulations 2021

- Process And Procedure Regulations For Class Licences 2021

- Licensing Processes And Procedures For Class Licences 2010

The applicable regulations that guide the licensing process can be accessed on the following :

Form A: registration of a licence to provide eletronic communications network service and eletronic communications service.

Form B: registration of a licence to provide a community broadcasting service or a special event community sound  broadcasting service or a temporary community television broadcasting service or Low power community sound broadcasing service.

Form D: Application to amend a license

Form F: Application to renew broadcating service licence or notice to renew ECS/ECNS licence

Form H: Application to transfer a licence

Form k: Notice to surrender of a licence

Form L: Notice of change of informaiton in respect of a licence

Form M: licence exemption service and networks

Form N: Application for a low power commercial sound broadcasting service license

Form P: Application for broadcasing specting license

The opening follows the 2022/2023 application process, which resulted in ICASA awarding Community Sound Broadcasting Service and Radio Frequency Spectrum licences to five (5) successful applicants between July and August 2023. During the period ICASA received 105 applications.

The Authority will be conducting a series of virtual workshops and provincial outreach workshops for prospective applicants, aimed at providing clarity and guidance on the requirements of the application process, to ensure that applications comply fully with the Invitation to Pre-Register. The dates for the proposed workshops will be communicated in due course.