Rain’s 5G Covers 5 Million Households

SA’s Rain 5G network service, which was launched in September 2019, is now covering 5.2 million households nationwide.

JSE-listed African Rainbow Capital (ARC), which owns Rain, announced today that the roll-out of this 5G service continues well.

ARC added that in addition to Rain’s strategy to expand coverage in the major metros, it is now also expanding to large towns across the country.

“With temporary radio frequency spectrum expiring at the end of November 2021, Rain has applied for additional provisional spectrum and plans to participate in the spectrum auction when it goes ahead.”

Rain, partly owned by Patrice Motsepe, Paul Harris and Michael Jordaan, is taking on established players such as Vox, Vumatel and Telkom’s OpenServe in the lucrative broadband space.

Also read: ICASA Awards Provisional Spectrum To Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Rain, Liquid

THEIndependent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has concluded its analysis of applications for provisional assignment of radio frequency spectrum under the new ICT COVID-19 National State of Disaster Regulations, 2021, and resolved to grant licences to six electronic communications network operators.

The licences are valid for a period of seven months, commencing from 1 December 2021, and ending on 30 June 2022 – or three months after the termination of the National State of Disaster – whichever comes first.

By the closing date on 17 November 2021, the Authority had received 6 applications, from: Rain Networks, Vodacom, Cell C, Telkom, Liquid Intelligence Technologies, and MTN.

All the applications for provisional spectrum assignments were considered in accordance with the criteria and conditions stipulated in the ICT COVID-19 National State of Disaster Regulations.

Provisional assignments in the 700/800 MHz band

The Authority received four applications for provisional radio frequency spectrum assignment in the IMT700 band from: MTN, Telkom, Vodacom and Rain Networks.

Upon consideration of the applications, the following assignments of provisional spectrum were granted in the IMT700 MHz band:
1. MTN = 10 MHz;
2. Telkom = 20 MHz;
3. Vodacom = 10 MHz
4. Rain Networks = 20 MHz.

ICASA received five applications for provisional radio frequency spectrum assignment in the IMT2600 band from: Telkom, MTN, Vodacom, Rain Networks, and Cell C.

Upon consideration of the applications, the following assignments for provisional spectrum were granted in the IMT2600 band:
1. Telkom = 10 MHz;
2. MTN = 40 MHz;
3. Vodacom = 40 MHz;
4. Rain Networks = 60 MHz;
5. Cell C = 20 MHz.