News – Ellipsis

Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) 15: Expanding Access to Communication Technology

dom2020-07-27T14:35:13+02:00Jul 26th, 2020|News, policy, snippets, universal Access|

[26 July 2020] The Minister of Public Works and Administration has gazetted additional Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPS) which include: Strategic Integrated Project No 22: Digital Infrastructure Sub-project: a. National Spatial Infrastructure Hub Strategic Integrated Project No 30: Digitising of Government Information Programme Strategic Integrated Project No 35: SA Connect Phase 1B Programme Designation of Strategic [...]

National State of Disaster due to COVID-19 – South African Telecommunications Sector

James2020-07-14T11:03:23+02:00Jul 12th, 2020|ICASA, licensing, News, policy, snippets, Uncategorized|

Telecoms-specific content | Telecoms-specific regulations | Documents and processes needed to provide essential services | General regulations | ICASA and other organisations | Miscellaneous links | Ongoing updates Telecoms-specific content Ellipsis Advisory - Lockdown and Telecommunications Companies Ellipsis - COVID-19 [...]

ICASA

admin2020-07-09T14:52:43+02:00Jul 7th, 2020|competition, Consumer Protection, frequency, ICASA, licensing, News, snippets|

[9 July 2020] ICASA and the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement, providing for the exchange of information and expertise between the entities as relevant to their respective mandates. It further establishes a framework for regulations related to electronic communications, to be informed and supported by [...]

Review of Universal Service and Access Obligation (USAO) framework

dom2020-04-02T09:23:59+02:00Apr 1st, 2020|News, Open for comment, snippets, universal Access|

[2 April 2020] The date public for comments on proposed revisions to the universal service and access obligations imposed on Rain Networks has been extended to 24 April 2020 (previously 2 April 2020), with the date for Rain's responses extended to 26 June 2020 (previously 12 April 2020). ICASA Media Release ___ [15 March 2020] [...]

Electronic Communications Amendment Bill 2018

dom2019-02-15T17:00:54+02:00Feb 13th, 2019|legislation, News, Open for comment, policy, snippets|

[13 February 2019] We have been provided with a copy of the letter effecting the withdrawal of the Bill. Letter to Portfolio Committee Chair 12 February 2019 The letter suggests that: the Department has already engaged with some stakeholders about this process; and we are likely to have a further policy review process prior to [...]

BEE ICT Sector Code

dom2017-02-21T13:25:16+02:00Jan 30th, 2017|News, Open for comment, policy, snippets|

[30 January 2017] The B-BBEE ICT Sector Council presented on its progress in implementing the ICT Sector Code to the Portfolio Committee for Telecommunications and Postal Services on 24 January 2017. The Council noted that – since it was established in September 2015 – it has: Consulted with the ICT Industry as part of the [...]

Telkom acquisition of BCX

dom2017-03-03T09:13:38+02:00Feb 2nd, 2015|licensing, News, Open for comment, snippets|

[2 February 2015] Telkom and BCG - parent company to BCX - have notified ICASA that they have withdrawn this application on the basis of legal advice received. It is highly likely that this relates to arguments raised in the public hearings into the application brought by Vodacom and Neotel for transfer of control over [...]

Consultative process to develop a comprehensive paper on the taxation of electronic services

dom2014-04-16T09:36:53+02:00Apr 16th, 2014|News, snippets, Uncategorized|

[16 April 2014] National Treasury notes in a press release that the growth and development of electronic services raises many complex issues, and hence that traditional tax (both indirect and direct) and regulatory measures may not be as effective in meeting their objectives as they for traditional goods and services. There is a need to modernise [...]

Line Maintenance Organisation (LMO) licensing no longer required

Rolf Blom2013-09-04T22:24:58+02:00Sep 4th, 2013|licensing, News, snippets, Type Approval & Labelling|

[27 August 2013] Suppliers and installers of PABXs and other terminating equipment should note that the requirement to apply for and maintain an LMO licence is no longer in force. ICASA has advised in the "Reasons Document in Respect of Type Approval Regulations, 2013 and Labelling Regulations, 2013", that with the repeal of the Enactment [...]

Content regulation in a digitally-converged environment

dom2013-06-25T18:00:56+02:00Jun 25th, 2013|miscellaneous, News, snippets|

[25 June 2013] The Final Report in ICASA's Review of the Broadcasting Regulatory Framework towards a Digitally Converged Environment was published on 25 June 2013. The Conclusions section is set out below: Final Report on Review of Broadcasting Regulatory Framework June 2013 ___ 5 PART D: CONCLUSION 5.1 This broadcasting regulatory review process has resulted in [...]

Notice to submit proof of compliance with annual licence fee and USAF contribution obligations for licensees

dom2017-03-03T11:32:19+02:00Dec 28th, 2012|CCC, compliance, icasa compliance, licensing, News, snippets|

[28 December 2012] ICASA published a notice on 19 December 2012 calling on licensees which it had not responded to its prior informal requests to provide proof of compliance with their obligations to pay annual licence fees and the required contribution to the Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF). Those licensees listed in the schedule [...]

Electronic Communications and Transactions Amendment Bill

dom2015-09-29T15:50:55+02:00Oct 29th, 2012|legislation, News, snippets|

Note: the below process was never finalised The Minister of Communications published a draft Electronic Communications and Transactions Amendment Bill for comment on 26 October 2012. The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 ("ECT Act") is the legislation which underpins digital commerce and regulation in South Africa. Electronic Communications and Transactions Amendment Bill [...]

Draft Policy Directions on high demand spectrum and the exploitation of the digital dividend

dom2017-03-03T13:31:48+02:00Aug 21st, 2012|frequency, News, policy, snippets|

[31 August 2014] Just a note to confirm that this process was never concluded and should now be regarded as having been abandoned. Updated radio frequency spectrum policy remains outstanding. ___ [1 February 2012] A notice was published in today's Government Gazette extending the period for comment to 29 February 2012. This will no doubt require ICASA [...]

Draft Spectrum Assignment Plans for the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands

dom2017-03-03T13:33:23+02:00Feb 24th, 2012|frequency, News, snippets|

[5 March 2012] ICASA has withdrawn this process until further notice and pending the finalisation of the Minister's policy directions. The following submissions were made to the "ghost deadline" of 29 February 2012: AppChat Broadband Infraco CDG Cell C City of Cape Town DBI ETV GSMA Kawuleza MNET MWEB Orbicom Qualcomm Sentech SKA Telkom Vodacom [...]

ICASA releases Findings on Local Loop Unbundling Framework

admin2017-03-02T16:15:06+02:00Nov 30th, 2011|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 [...]

The Draft Electronic Communications Amendment Bill 2012

admin2017-03-03T13:36:16+02:00Nov 14th, 2011|News, Open for comment, policy, snippets|

[14 November 2011] 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 [...]

ICASA Annual Report: Service Licensing

admin2011-11-11T12:22:59+02:00Nov 11th, 2011|ICASA, licensing, News, standard terms and conditions|

The following is derived from the ICASA Annual Report for the period ending 31 March 2011 Registration of Class Licences and Unreserved Postal Services ICASA granted the following licences in the annual reporting period. Licences/Certificate Number of Licences Granted Community Television 6 Class Sound Broadcasting, including community, community low power, community Special Event and Commercial [...]

ICASA Annual Report: Consumer Affairs

admin2011-11-11T12:23:28+02:00Nov 11th, 2011|Consumer Affairs, Consumer Protection, ICASA, News|

The following is derived from the ICASA Annual Report for the period ending 31 March 2011 Consumer affairs and complaints ICASA handles the resolution of consumer complaints in the sphere of communication services. The following table details the complaints received in the period ending 31 March 2011 Quality of Service complaints QUALITY OF SERVICE Description [...]

ICASA Annual Report: Frequency Issues and Type Approval

admin2011-11-11T12:23:32+02:00Nov 11th, 2011|frequency, News|

The following is derived from the ICASA Annual Report for the period ending 31 March 2011 Radio Frequency Licensing statistics At 31 March 2011 a total of 46 109 frequency licences for various services were held. Number of licences as at 1 April 2010 New Licenses Cancellations Number of licences as at 31 March 2011 [...]

ICASA Annual Report: Legal and the CCC

admin2017-03-01T14:21:06+02:00Nov 11th, 2011|CCC and Litigation, compliance, News|

Legal and the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) Legal and the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) provide support to ICASA in a host of litigation matters, the drafting and review of ICASA regulations and other regulatory documents, as well as providing legal advice and support to the various departments within ICASA. Litigation Matters The following [...]