The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will hold hybrid public hearings on draft amendments to the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations and associated fees regulations, providing stakeholders and members of the public an opportunity to make oral representations on proposed changes to South Africa’s satellite services framework.
Scope of Draft Amendments
Published on 15 May 2026 in Government Gazette No. 54677, the draft amendments address several significant aspects of satellite services regulation:
- Registration regime for satellite space segment operators
- Revised spectrum fee formulas
- Blanket licensing approach for satellite terminal networks
- Protection regulations for radio astronomy facilities
- Regulations governing the use of Satellite Earth Stations in Motion (ESIM)
These amendments follow the Authority’s comprehensive inquiry into the licensing framework for satellite services, which concluded in April 2026 following extensive stakeholder consultation and public hearings held in February 2025.
Public Hearing Details
ICASA will conduct hybrid oral public hearings on:
Dates: 19-20 August 2026
Venue: Auditorium, 350 Witch-Hazel Avenue, Eco Point Park, Centurion
Time: 09h00 (South African Standard Time)
The hearings will be conducted in a hybrid format, enabling participation both in person and online. The online meeting link, copies of written representations, and the programme schedule will be published on the Authority’s website.
Participation and Access to Information
Oral representations will be made by stakeholders who have submitted written comments on the draft regulations and have indicated their intention to participate in the hearings.
The public hearings notice and written representations submitted during the consultation period are available on ICASA’s website at www.icasa.org.za/pages/satellite-licensing-framework-submissions.
Members of the media and interested stakeholders are invited to attend. Those wishing to participate should consult the Authority’s website for further details regarding registration and the hearing schedule
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