[8 August 2017] ICASA has published draft amendments to the End-user and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations 2016. These amendments are generally pro-consumer and seek to make the following changes to current practices: Voice and SMS services: Notifications of service depletion to be sent to the end-user at set intervals and provision for end-users on post-paid [...]
[10 June 2017] The deadline for submissions has been extended to 30 June 2017, 16h00. ICASA Act 2000: Extension of the closing date for submissions to the discussion document: Equity ownership by Historically Disadvantaged Groups and the application of the ICT Sector Code in the ICT Sector in terms of S4B of the Act, as [...]
[29 April 2017] ICASA has published useful information on use of E-Band spectrum in South Africa in the form of a set of standard operating procedures relating to applying for licenses or self-registering links in this band. Standard Operating Procedures for the E-Band 28 April 2017 __ [28 November 2016] The amendments to the Radio Frequency [...]
[20 April 2017] We have put together an overview and update document pertaining to Dynamic Spectrum Assignment and Television White Spaces in South Africa, which can be found at the link below. Status update on the use of Dynamic Spectrum Assignment and Television White Spaces in South Africa ___ [10 April 2017] ICASA has moved [...]
[11 April 2017] The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services has published for comment a draft National e-Government Strategy under section 5(3) of the Electronic Communications and Transaction Act of 2002. Draft National e-Government Strategy - Digitizing government services Comments on the draft are due by 25 May 2017 and should be submitted to for [...]
[10 April 2017] The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services has published for comment a draft National e-Strategy under section 5{3) of the Electronic Communications and Transaction Act of 2002. Draft National e-strategy - Technology working for the people to build an information and knowledge society Comments on the draft are due by 25 May [...]
[27 March 2017] ICASA has given notice of the annual increase to be implemented in respect of radio frequency spectrum licence fees. Notice in terms of Regulation 9A of Radio Frequency Spectrum Licence Fee Amendment Regulations 2015 Effective 1 April 2016, all radio frequency spectrum licence fees will be increased by 6.4% based on the [...]
[20 February 2017] ICASA have requested comment on proposals by Sentech, WBS and Telkom for the amendment of the universal service and access obligations (USAOs) imposed on them under the licences issued to them by ICASA. Sentech Telkom WBS The deadline for submissions is 24 February 2017 and written comments can be directed to Moyeni [...]
[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 [...]
[28 November 2016] The amendments to the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations 2015 have been finalised and came into force on 22 November 2016. Radio Frequency Spectrum Amendment Regulations 2016 __ [17 June 2016] ICASA have published draft amendments to the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations 2015 for public comment: Draft Amendment Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations 2015 The deadline [...]
[7 October 2015] We are receiving a lot of queries with regard to community broadcasting licences. Unfortunately the moratorium on the issuing of these licences announced by ICASA on 22 September 2015 is still in place. Moratorium __ [13 July 2015] The Minister of Communications has published a Draft Community Broadcasting Support Scheme for public [...]
[18 July 2016] The Minister of Communications has published a call for nominations for members of an "Evaluation Panel for the ICASA Council" to be established under the provisions of the ICASA Act dealing with performance monitoring. Nominations invited: Evaluation panel for ICASA Council The Panel is to consist of 7 members - one of [...]
[21 November 2015] Reminder that the submissions on this important document are due on Monday 30 November 2015. ___ [18 August 2015] The South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) has published an Issue Paper on Pornography and Children for public comment. Issue Paper 30 (Project 107) Sexual Offences: Pornography and Children Comment is due by [...]
See further https://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 [...]
[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 [...]
[1 December 2014] The deadline for submissions has been extended to 16 January 2015. Notice on DoC website ___ [13 November 2014] The Department of Communications has called for written proposals on a new review of existing broadcasting policy. Call for Written Proposals on Broadcasting Policy Review November 2014 Minister's Statement on the Broadcasting Policy [...]
[24 November 2014] The deadline for responses to the ITA has been extended to 31 March 2015. ___ [3 September 2014] ICASA issued an Invitation to Apply for Individual Commercial Free To Air Television Broadcasting Service Licences under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act on 28 August 2014. Invitation To Apply for Free to Air Television Broadcasting [...]
[16 November 2014] ICASA has published the final International Mobile Telephony (IMT) Roadmap and are to be commended for the speed at which they are proceeding (a rare accolade). Final (Draft) IMT Roadmap ICASA simultaneously published a Draft Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plan (RFSAP) for IMT. Draft IMT RFSAP ICASA press release The Independent Communications Authority [...]
[26 September 2014] ICASA has published draft Inquiry Prescribed Form Regulations for comment. Catchy title aside, the intention of the draft regulations is simply to prescribe the form which ICASA can use if it requires any person to provide information or to appear before it during the conduct of an inquiry under section 4B of [...]
[14 April 2014] ICASA has issued out a notice - dated 11 April 2014 - which appears to be a substantial attempt to clean up its database of licensees. The notice contains a number of lists of licensees: List A: licensees who did not respond to various information requests made by ICASA between September 2012 [...]
[10 April 2014] The Department of Communications will host roundtable discussions involving all those who made submissions to the Green Paper early in June. This will be by invitation only. Roundtable Session Date Time e-Services 02 June 2014 9am – 2pm Infrastructure & Services 03 June 2014 9am – 2pm Content 04 June 2014 [...]
[3 March 2014] The following are the outcomes - as we understand them - of the informal workshop held at ICASA on the 18th February: There is scope for a trial of LLU to take place at a currently underutilised rural Telkom exchange. This will be arranged and a working group is to be established [...]
[29 April 2013] We have prepared a summary / overview of the actual principles / objectives proposed and the questions raised. Overview of Proposed Principles in the ICT Policy Review Framework Paper April 2013 ___ [25 April 2013] In keeping with its Outline for the ICT Policy Review Process, the Minister of Communications has published a [...]
[14 November 2014] ICT Policy Discussion Document published [6 June 2012]: Nominations have opened for persons to sit on an ICT Policy Review Panel which will provide advice to the Minster. A copy of the invitation can be found here. The terms of reference of the Panel are available here. South Africa has commenced another [...]
[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 [...]
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 [...]