Will the real puppet master please stand up?

It's been two weeks since my last post, and the industry has been racked by turmoil, changes, cancellations and terminations. Interesting times, I have to say.

So after much toing and froing, ICASA decided to cancel the spectrum auction. Why? Because it would not work. Now this has happened after the industry has made how many calls on the auction, the process and even the ITA?? (interestingly enough, it took the Minister of Communications saying that the process is flawed before the auction was cancelled - I'm sensing a serious puppet and string scenario playing out here)

That said, there was tremendous hope and excitement around the fact that the spectrum would finally be made available and that finally the smaller players would have the opportunity to finally facilitate more competition in the market. Now we have to sit and wait with bated breath to find out when exactly the opportunity will present itself to acquire more spectrum.

Then of course there is the whole DoC debacle. I am seriously beginning to wonder about the abilities of certain individuals within the department - surely you should put the industry's best interest first? Then again, that's probably my naive dream of a liberalised telecoms industry speaking.

What I find fascinating is the fact that all this controversy seems to revolve around tender processes. Now it's not like we have the best reputation in terms of transparent processes as it is, so it does raise some doubts as to whether the DG was possibly in the right place at the wrong time and is now paying for it. Definitely worth keeping an eye on this as it unfolds :-) - that whole where there's smoke there must be fire scenario.

Of course this debacle is just another stumbling block in our long journey towards liberalisation of the industry. Just imagine how different the country would be if we had actual competition, market-related pricing and true broadband available?

Now that's a dream worth having!