Department of Science and Technology
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is obliged not to issue broadcasting licences or radio frequency spectrum licences that could interfere with the Karoo core astronomy advantage area. Only licences containing specific provision for the protection of the area may be issued.
ICASA confirmed this in a statement published on 17 September and has undertaken to meet its obligation with immediate effect. Section 22 (6) of Astronomy Geographic Advantage (AGA) Act 21 of 2007 and section 30 (1) of Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005 together impose the obligation on the authority.
The area concerned refers to the entire Northern Cape province with the exception of Sol Plaatje municipality. It was declared a core astronomy advantage area in terms of section five of the AGA act. Members of the public were notified of this in Government Gazette 33462 published on 20 August 2010.
The MeerKAT radio telescope, pathfinder to the planned square kilometre array (SKA) radio telescope project, is located in the area.
According to the statement, minister of science and technology, Naledi Pandor, has obtained ICASA’s concurrence on the following matters regarding the area:
· the complete prohibition and restriction of terrestrial broadcasting transmission and activities within the area that could cause radio frequency interference in terms of section 22 (2) of the AGA act;
· that activities prescribed in section 23 (1) of the AGA act may be prohibited within the area, including the construction, expansion or operation of any fixed radio frequency interference sources and any activities capable of causing radio frequency interference; and that
· the restriction on the Karoo core astronomy advantage area may be confirmed either by a Government Gazette notice or by means of making regulations in accordance with section 50 of the AGA act.
In terms of the ICASA statement, electronic communication networks (ICN) and broadcasting service licensees that transmit or broadcast into the core astronomy advantage area are advised to migrate to a radio frequency, or utilise alternative technology, that more effectively protects radio astronomy observations. ICASA has undertaken to conduct a study on frequency occupancy and usage for the purpose of determining which ICNs and broadcasting service licensees are affected.
Sabinet Cape Town Office
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