South African Wimax Rules Wishful
THE new licences to allocate scarce wireless spectrum to the internet industry seem an example of how over-emphasising black empowerment can harm, not help, social and economic development.

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) believes it can uplift black businesses by reserving WiMax licences for companies that are at least 51% black owned. But building a WiMax network from scratch will cost hundreds of millions of rands, and no black-owned players in this industry spring to mind as potential licence buyers.

To read this Business Day article in full, see allafrica.com/stories/200806260367.html.