National Radio Frequency Spectrum Policy
South Africa finally has a policy document to govern the use and management of radio frequency spectrum in South Africa – the Radio Frequency Spectrum Policy for South Africa was gazetted on 16 April 2010.
National Radio Frequency Spectrum Policy 2010
Policy Directives September 2007The Minister of Communications has released a number of Policies and Policy Directives relating to licence conversion, mobile television and miscellaneous matters.
Policies & Policy Directions 17 September 2007
Draft South African Cybersecurity PolicyThe Minister of Communications has given notice of his intention to finalise a South African Cybersecurity Policy. To this end a draft has been published for public comment as is required by the Electronic Communications Act. The period for comment closes on 19 March 2010.
Draft South African National Cybersecurity Policy
DoC to host National Broadband Policy Colloquium: 18-19 November 2009Update 20091116: The BB Policy Workshop Agenda is now available.
According to an advert published in the Sunday Times on 8 November 2009, the Department of Communications is hosting a National Broadband Colloquium to afford the public an opportunity to provide input on the Draft Broadband Policy for South Africa.
Date: 18 to 19 November 2009
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre
Time: 08:00-16:00
Those wishing to attend can register here.
More information on the Draft National Broadband Policy can be found here.
Minister seeks to restrict Broadband Infraco to an ECNS licenceThe political wrangling over the future role of Broadband Infraco – the State-owned Entity (SoE) set up to faciliate the lowering of the costs of communication in South Africa – continues apace. The Minister of Communication has acted quickly on his statement to Parliament that Infraco should not have an ECS licence by publishing draft amendments to the Policy Direction issued by the previous minister as regards the licensing of the entity.
Draft Amendment of the Policy Direction on the Licensing of Broadband Infraco 20091013
The proposed amendments are open for comment until 24 November 2009.
If you want to look at the original policy direction and the history of this matter – http://www.ellipsis.co.za/index.php?s=Infraco.
comment: hard not to have a quiet giggle really – electronic communications in SA is certainly rapidly taking on soap opera characteristics. The net effect of the proposed amendments is to take away the ability of Infraco to compete with other service providers in the retail market – they will be restricted to making capacity available on their network for other licensees to use. It will, in other words, have no direct dealings with the public.
This is probably the right result. No doubt there are some extremely unhappy faces in the Infraco boardroom and rumours of an attempt to fight the DoC on this one are beginning to surface. Meanwhile, nearly 3 years after it was initially mooted, the new SoE still does not have any licensing.
Pass the popcorn please.
Draft National Spectrum PolicyBetter late than never. South Africa has been in desperate need of a policy governing the use of radio frequency spectrum and ICASA has been floundering around in its absence. The Department of Communications – and the new Minister in particular – need to be congratulated for identifying this document as a priority.
The Draft National Spectrum Policy was published by the Department on 18 September 2009. Comments are due by 17 October 2009.
We have prepared an Overview of the Draft National Spectrum Policy September 2009 to assist you in getting to grips with the basics of the document.
Draft Strategy on Local and Digital Content DevelopmentThe Department of Communications continues to awake from its long slumber and has released a notice calling for comment on a draft local and digital content development strategy.
Draft Local & Digital Content Development Strategy 20090904.
Submissions are due by 20 October 2009.
PUSANOs no moreThe Minister of Communications has issued a notice detailing his intention to amend a policy direction published by his predecessor in terms of which the consolidation of Under Serviced Area Licensees (USALs) into Provincial Under Serviced Area Network Operators (PUSANOs) was required. The effect of the proposed amendment will be to delete the portion relating to PUSANOs.
The original policy direction:
DoC Policy Directions 17 September 2007
The intended amendment:
Notice of Amendment with regard to PUSANOs 19 August 2009
The proposed amendment is open for comment until 1 October 2009.
comment: the initiative relating to USALs is a failed initiative which needs to be consigned to the history books and this amendment is welcome in that it at least recognises that (a) there are hardly any viable USALs left and (b) the advent of the new licensing framework under the ECA has dramatically changed the service licensing landscape and the advantages previously enjoyed by the USALs in terms of infrastructure rights no longer have any relevance.
DoC Strategic Plan 2009 – 2012The Department of Communications, under the stewardship of the new Minister General (Ret.) Siphiwe Nyanda, presented its Strategic Plan for 2009-2012 to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Communications on 11 June 2009.
We have a copy of the powerpoint presentation made – DoC Strategic Plan 2009-2012 Presentation.
Readers will no doubt be heartened to know that the top 5 priorities for the Department for 2009/10 are:
Broadcasting Digital Migration
Manage the Awareness Campaign
Roll-out of broadcasting digital infrastructure (Sentech, SABC)
Roll out of Scheme-for-Ownership-Support of STBs
Capacitate the Digital Dzonga Secretariat
Develop and implement the STB Manufacturing Sector Development Strategy
Develop and implement the Local and Digital Content Development Strategy
National Radio Frequency Spectrum
Develop Policy
Conduct Spectrum Audit up to 3 GHz
Develop National frequency plan
Cyber-security
Develop Policy
Undertake Identification of Critical Information Infrastructure
Affordable, reliable, robust and secure ICT Infrastructure
Develop Broadband Policy
Implement the Programme of Action to address South Africa
ICASA has published a notice inviting “broadcasting services licensees to apply for individual electronic communications network services (IECNS) licences for the provisioning of broadcasting services. The publication of this ITA comes in the wake of a Ministerial Policy Directive published on 9 January 2009.
ITA for IECNS licence for provision of Broadcasting Services 2009
The Policy Directive, according to ICASA, requires it to prioritise, amongst other things, licensees intending to use satellite infrastructure for the provisioning of broadcasting services and applicants whose primary target is the poor “in order to self-provide their own signal distribution”.
“It is upon this policy directive and in view of our commitment to meet universal access goals and the potential of ICTs to be the effective empowerment tools for the poor, that the Authority will, on considering the applications, pay special attention to the needs of the poorest sections of our population.”
The ITA is open only to licensees entitled to participate in licence conversion (i.e. not new licensees) and licensees that “had temporary permit, authority or licence or were granted a private broadcasting licence by the Authority for broadcasting services and wish to self provide their signal distribution services using satellite technology.”
The deadline for responses is 21 May 2009. There is a non-refundable application fee of R50 000.
In completing the application details will have to be provided as to how the applicant intends:
- to ensure that electronic communications network services are provided to persons or groups of persons from poorest communities in South Africa also ensuring within those communities diverse views are accommodated; and
-to promote the empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons including women and the youth and people with disabilities, in accordance with the requirements of the ICT Charter; and
- to meet universal access goals;and
- to serve and empower the poor when the licence is issued; and
- to ensure that the poor are their primary target customers.
ellipsis comment: it is sometimes very hard not to be overwhelmed by cynicism … .
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