A UN report says government needs to increase the transparency of its surveillance policy and establish independent oversight mechanisms. A new repor.. Source: UN report tough on SA govt surveillance | ITWeb
Source: Telkom SOC : Fibre optic turf war pushes speeds up and prices down | 4-Traders
[31 March 2016] Moving with laudable speed, ICASA has published a Findings Document on the Regulatory Framework on Electronic Communications Infrastructure: Findings Document Regulatory Framework on Electronic Communications Infrastructure The regulator has concluded that infrastructure sharing is already accommodated under the existing Facilities Leasing Regulations 2010, with greater attention to be paid to the enforcement of [...]
[16 March 2016] We have obtained a copy of the final report of the Portfolio Committee for Telecommunications and Postal Services on the discussion of possible regulation of OTTs hosted by the Committee on 26 January 2016. 20160308 PCTPS Final Report on OTTs It is noteworthy that the report is more in the form of [...]
[4 March 2016] The final policy direction has been published. Policy Direction Broadband Pricing The substance of the policy direction has been distilled to its essence - that ICASA must proceed urgently to use its pro-competitive power under Chapter 10 of the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005 to create a regulatory framework that promotes [...]
South Africa must end years of deliberation and approve the auction of radio spectrum so mobile-network operators can roll out high-speed broadband services to communities across the country, the telecommunications regulator said.Source: South Africa Urged by Regulator to Approve Spectrum Auction - Bloomberg Business
[2 February 2016] The Women's Legal Centre has published A Simplified Guide to the Protection from Harassment Act - if you are experiencing what is or what you think is harassment, this is an excellent place to start. ___ [30 May 2013] The Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2011 ("the PFHA") came into force on [...]
Over-the-top services such as Skype and Google Hangouts allow users to send messages and call over data networks at comparatively lower costs Source: Services such as WhatsApp could face regulation in SA | Telecoms & Technology | BDlive
[7 December 2015] As introduced into Parliament by the Minister of Communications on 4 December 2015: Broadcasting Amendment Bill 2015 [B39-2015] ___ [15 November 2015] The Department of Communications has published a notice in the Gazette revealing its intention to introduce a Bill during November to amend the Broadcasting Act of 1999. Explanatory Summary Broadcasting Amendment [...]
[17 November 2015] ICASA has published a notice in various newspapers calling on licensees with outstanding annual radio frequency spectrum licence fees to attend to payment as soon as possible. Newspaper Notice Spectrum Debtors 2 October 2015 There are 21 049 entries in the spreadsheet...
Ellipsis director and regulatory expert Dominic Cull highlighted that it is not significant that the bill has been approved by Cabinet.“The debate only begins when the bill is introduced in Parliament,” said Cull. “Don’t expect the bill to look the same coming out as it did going in.”Cull said the process of drafting an online content [...]
[18 October 2015] We have a copy of what we are informed is the final version of the Children’s Empowerment & Information Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy referred to below. Final Draft Children Strategy July 2014 The word draft appears in the title and is watermarked in the document so we will try and find a more [...]
[30 September 2015] Notice has been given of public hearings to be held regarding the Position Paper and Draft Regulations on South African Local Content: Television and Radio (see lower on for links). The hearings are scheduled for 1 and 2 October 2015. Notice of Public Hearings - Dates and Agenda ICASA Is Convening Public [...]
Contents OPEN INTERNET AND NET NEUTRALITY. 4 R3. OPEN INTERNET POLICY. 4 R4. NET NEUTRALITY LIMITATIONS. 4 R5. BROADBAND INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE AS AN ESSENTIAL FACILITY. 5 CONVERGENCE. 5 R15. POLICY OBJECTIVES UNDERPINNING CONVERGENCE. 5 R56. IP BASED TECHNOLOGIES. 6 R57. OVER-THE-TOP (OTT) SERVICES. 6 R72. POLICY FOR CLOUD COMPUTING.. 7 COMPETITION ISSUES. 8 R16. ANNUAL [...]
[23 September 2015] ICASA has published a new form to be used to obtain information when it is conducting an inquiry under section 4B of the ICASA Act. Inquiry Prescribed Form Regulations 2015 Section 4C of the same Act sets out the powers ICASA has to "require from any person such particulars and information as [...]
A draft bill has explicitly made phishing and ID theft crimes for the first time, but some fear the legislation could harm free speech. Source: South Africa gets first look at cybercrime bill that comes with 25-year jail terms | ZDNet
[2 September 2015] Doing basic parental control of the content available on a mobile phone in South Africa is really simple. Unless you use Cell C or Telkom Mobile, in which case you will need to use a third party provider. There is really no excuse for not taking this most basic of measures if [...]
[12 August 2015] The Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013 came into force on 9 August 2015. The stated purpose of this Act is to give effect to the Republic’s obligations concerning the trafficking of persons in terms of international agreements; to provide for an offence of trafficking in persons and [...]
[16 June 2020] The President of the Republic has returned the Copyright Amendment Bill [B13B-2017] and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill [B24B-2016] to the National Assembly for consideration of the President’s reservations about their constitutionality. President Letter to Parliament re Copyright Amendment Bill 16 June 2020 ___ [10 August 2015] The Department of Trade and [...]
[8 August 2015] The Deputy-Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services – Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize during a speech at the ICT Achievers Awards 2015 Media Launch – provided information on the 2012 Information and Communication Technology satellite account which was released during the first quarter of 2015.This satellite account provides an overview of the role that ICT [...]
[3 August 2015] Nothing like a whiny post on an obscure blog to spur action :) Invitations have been despatched for follow-up meetings to the launch event and it looks like this initiative will live again come 17 August 2015. ___ [27 July 2015] Just noting for the record that nothing further has happened regarding [...]
[25 July 2015] The Minister of health has gazetted a Notice establishing a Ministerial Advisory Committee on e-Health and setting out its composition, functions, working procedure and the remuneration and allowances payable to its members. Establishment of Ministerial Advisory Committee on e-Health The Notice specifies the following definition of "e-Health": "e- Health" means the combined [...]
[13 July 2015] ICASA and the National Consumer Commission (NCC) have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement which sets out which type of consumer complaints each will deal with in future. Memorandum of Agreement entered into between the National Consumer Commission and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (July 2015) In broad terms: the NCC [...]
The Film and Publications Board has agreed in principle to defer the regulation of online press content to the Press Council of South Africa. Source: Press Council, FPB lock down content regulation deal | Fin24
South Africa's adoption of digital terrestrial television (DTT) should be carefully evaluated and perhaps even dumped, says an industry insider. Source: 'Just dump SA digital TV migration' | Fin24
ISPA has asked for greater competition through open access, an understanding of net neutrality, and a regulator that is equipped to translate policy into practice. Source: ISPA’s three wishes
[8 June 2015] Indications are that the next two years will see the introduction of a number of Bills which are likely to impact significantly on electronic communications in South Africa. Under the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) there is now a clear path to the drafting of a new ICT Policy White [...]
The state's incompetence is hindering connectivity as well as its own developmental goals. Source: Broadband failure costs SA dearly | Business | M&G
See further http://www.ellipsis.co.za/progress-in-assignments-in-700800-mhz-and-2-6-ghz/ __ [6 May 2015] ICASA have published Gazettes identifying and rectifying errors in the spectrum assignment plans for IMT bands published last month. These have been inserted in the previous post next to the document they relate to. ___ [2 April 2015] ICASA has published final radio frequency spectrum assignment plans (RFSAPs) [...]
[5 May 2015] The ICT Panel of Experts has handed over its final report to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele. The Minister has indicated that he anticipates that the review process will be finalised this year. Executive Summary National Integrated ICT Policy Review Report March 2015 National Integrated ICT Policy [...]