MTN Is Set for a Court Battle With Telkom Over South African Spectrum
- MTN opposes smaller rival’s bid to prevent spectrum auction
- Auction seen as key to revive economy, boost telco offerings
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Africa’s biggest wireless carrier MTN Group Ltd. has mounted a legal challenge against Telkom SA SOC Ltd. in bid to prevent further delays in South Africa’s long-awaited release of additional broadband spectrum.
MTN filed court papers Friday seeking to oppose Telkom’s attempt to halt the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa from auctioning spectrum in March, it said in a statement. The auction is seen by the government as a critical structural economic reform needed to revive the country’s coronavirus-battered economy by unlocking investments in broadband and lowering data costs.