Liquid Telecom SA looking to monetise its spectrum

Newly appointed Liquid Telecom South Africa CEO Reshaad Sha said in an interview with TechCentral that the company’s spectrum holdings ’form an important component of [Liquid Telecom SA’s] asset structure’, with the company currently exploring ways to monetise these assets. The executive said: ‘We are exploring multiple monetisation models, through partnerships, that will allow us to use that spectrum effectively … We are in the middle of a number of engagements that will [result in] a significant use of that spectrum.’ Liquid Telecom has access to frequencies in the 800MHz, 1800MHz and 3500MHz bands, which are suitable for mobile broadband services. The operator has used its 800MHz spectrum to roll out a CDMA network (for legacy voice and narrowband data) in many of the major metros and has deployed a small TD-LTE network in the 1800MHz and 3500MHz bands in the Gauteng region. Going forward, the company is planning to shift its focus to the business segment, with Sha highlighting that Liquid Telecom SA is exploring ‘various options’ for the consumer business, with the divestment of the retail consumer base also on the cards.