Ellipsis provides specialist regulatory and compliance advice
to the
electronic communications industry
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Draft Policy Directions on high demand spectrum and the exploitation of the digital dividend
Posted in : frequency, News, Open for comment, policy, snippets
Update 20120201: A notice was published in today’s Government Gazette extending the period for comment to 29 February 2012. This will no doubt require ICASA to push out the dates for the initiation of its process once again. __ The Minister of Communications has published two draft policy directions for public comment. Once finalised the policy [...]
Licensee compliance framework finalised
Posted in : licensing, snippets
[Post updated 24 January 2012: dates for submissions amended after discussions with ICASA] ICASA has finally published the Compliance Manual Regulations which set out the different reports which the holders of electronic communications services (ECS) and electronic communications network services (ECNS) licences are required to submit in order to ensure compliance with the terms and [...]
Draft Spectrum Assignment Plans for the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands
Posted in : frequency, News, Open for comment, snippets
Update 24 January 2012: ICASA has published a notice amending the timetable set out in the Draft ITA while also inserting network roll-out obligations for the three packages to be made available. The new timeline: Publication of the Spectrum Plan by 15 December 2011 Closing date for Comments by 29 February 2012 Public Hearings from [...]
Content regulation in a digitally-converged environment
Posted in : News, Open for comment, snippets, Uncategorized
ICASA has published an Issues Paper on the Review of the Broadcasting Regulatory Framework towards a Digitally Converged Environment (6MB .pdf). This is mainly focused on broadcasting but potentially touches on issues relevant to electronic communications service providersn such as Internet Service Providers when it covers the need to review content regulation on broadcasters given [...]
Hearings into Draft Underserviced Area Definition Regulations
Posted in : snippets, universal Access
Update 26 January 2012: these hearings have been postponed indefinitely as a result of the strike action at ICASA. According to a Media Release stakeholders will be informed of new dates in due course. Hearings will be held at ICASA on the 20th January 2012 as part of the process of finalising regulations setting out the [...]
ICASA Notice – Shareholding Structure (IECS & IECNS)
Posted in : snippets, Uncategorized
ICASA has issued a notice in the Government Gazette published on 28 December 2011, requesting shareholding information from certain Individual licensees. The notice specifies 82 licensees who ICASA believes have yet to provide the shareholding information specified. These licensees have 14 days to submit the requested information or they will be referred to the [...]
ICASA releases Findings on Local Loop Unbundling Framework
Posted in : competition, ICASA, News, snippets
ICASA has released their findings on the recently ended Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) hearings. In general the outcome of the process is disappointing and seems to be in the form of meeting obstacles to LLU raised by Telkom as opposed to using the available tools to achieve LLU. Given the expectations of the industry after [...]
Posted in : snippets, Uncategorized
The Electronic Communications Amendment Bill gazetted on the 4th of November has been withdrawn by the Department of Communication. The Department cites the need “…to allow further consultation within government on the contents of the Bill” as the reason for the sudden about-face. Gazette 34774 (Withdrawal of the EC Amendment Bill 2011)
The Draft Electronic Communications Amendment Bill
Posted in : News, Open for comment, policy, snippets
The Department of Communications has gazetted a draft amendment to the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) of 2005. The bill aims to make changes to a wide range of items in the ECA. Included in the same notice is a memorandum with the objects and reasoning behind each of the proposed amendments, providing some insight into [...]
Recategorisation of Medium-Wave Frequencies
Posted in : frequency, snippets
ICASA has released a reasons document for the recategorisation of medium-wave frequencies. A determination has been made by ICASA so as to provide a regulatory framework of all spare MW radio frequency spectrum within the catergories designated as per the Electronic Communications Act No.36 of 2005. Also given are procedures and criteria for the awarding [...]
ICASA Annual Report 2010 – 2011
Posted in : competition, Consumer Protection, frequency, ICASA, licensing, News, snippets
ICASA has made available their Annual Report for the period ending 31 March 2011. The Report details ICASA’s efforts and progress over the last year in the South African regulatory environment. See below for some of the more noteworthy regulatory statistics from the past year. Frequency Issues and Type Approval Legal and the CCC [...]
Geographic Number Porting Process
Posted in : Numbering, snippets
The Number Portability Company (the NPC) has provided the following direction on how to register and attain accreditation with it for Geographic Number Porting (GNP) by ECNS licensees. How to register and gain accreditation for GNP Stage in the process Notes 1 Provide company documentation to the NPC Registered company name. Company registration and VAT [...]
Posted in : access, competition, snippets
Update September 2011: Below are links to the various submissions made by interested parties in response to the LLU discussion document. Broadband Infraco Cell C Commercial Workers’ Union (CWU) Internet Solutions ISPA MTN MWEB MyBroadband Neotel Paul Hjul South African Communications Union (SACU) Telkom Covering Letter, Telkom, Telkom Annexure A Vodacom June 2011: LLU [...]
Ellipsis Regulatory Compliance Service
Posted in : News, snippets, Uncategorized
We have launched a compliance service aimed at assisting holders of electronic communications services (ECS) and electronic communications network services (ECNS) licensees to comply with ICASA regulation applicable to their licences. ICASA indicated in July 2011 that they would commence with the enforcement of the regulatory regime and would be referring non-compliant licensees to the [...]
Defining markets under Chapter 10 of the ECA
Posted in : competition, Open for comment, snippets
In the Discussion Document on a Regulatory Framework for Broadcasting Transmission Services, ICASA has set out the methodology for defining markets for competitive reviews undertaken in terms of Chapter 10 of the Electronic Communications Act of 2005. Defining the relevant market is a critical first step in addressing market failure under the Act. The text [...]
ICASA Regulatory Framework for Broadcasting Transmission Services
Posted in : competition, miscellaneous, snippets
ICASA has released a Discussion Document relating to the creation of a regulatory framework for broadcasting transmission services and the undertaking of a competition assessment of the wholesale broadcasting transmission services market. This will eventually lead to the potential application of pricing controls and other pro-competitive terms and conditions on any entity found to have [...]
New Telkom form for PBX connections
Posted in : miscellaneous, newsletters, snippets
There has been confusion for a long time as to whether or not a Line Maintenance Organisation (LMO) licence was required in order for an entity to connect a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) to Telkom’s telecommunications network. Telkom’s insistence on the production of an LMO licence prior to the installation of a software-based PBX taking [...]
Posted in : News, Open for comment, policy, snippets
The Department of Trade and Industry has – after a gestation period of some 8 years – published for public comment a draft ICT Sector Code intended to accelerate the transformation of the ICT industry in South Africa. Draft ICT Sector Charter Comments are due by 10 August 2011.
National Radio Frequency Spectrum Policy
Posted in : frequency, policy, snippets
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 Related documents The Draft National Spectrum Policy was published by the Department of [...]
Posted in : Numbering, snippets
In order to “promote efficient use of numbers by operators and to eliminate potential misuse of numbers in the distribution channel such as retail stores”, ICASA, after due consultation with affected licensees, has decided to introduce a requirement for the provision of numberless or MSISDNless SIM starter packs from 15 May 2009. From this date [...]
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