[19 October 2018] Please see below for presentations made at the public hearings: Alliance for Affordable Internet Amandla Mobi DG Murray Trust Media Monitoring Africa Internet Service Providers Association Right2Know Research ICT Africa Broadband Infraco Cell C ECN Kuziva Muzondo MTN Telkom / BRG Vodacom (Letter) Vodacom (Submission) ___ [5 October 2018] The Commission has issued [...]
[20 October 2018] The Select Committee for Communications and Publications has published a list of amendments which it proposes to the Film and Publications Amendment Bill as received from the Portfolio Committee for Communications, Films and Publications Amendment Bill Select Committee Proposed Amendments There are three proposed amendments, two of which are technical while the [...]
[9 October 2018] ICASA has issued a tender invitation to higher learning and research institutions to submit proposals on the development, implementation, hosting and management of the Reference Geo-Location Spectrum Database (R-GLSD) at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa to enable the implementation of the Television White Spaces Regulations. Closing date is 23 October [...]
[15 September 2018] It is now 100 days since the amendments were meant to come into force. The only reason consumers are still waiting for the relief which these amendments introduce is because ICASA decided to litigate rather than mitigate. ___ [6 September 2018] We are collecting the affidavits and other court process being filed [...]
[22 September 2018] The Bill was formally tabled in Parliament on 19 September 2018 and this is the version which is to be debated. Electronic Communications Amendment Bill [B31-2018] The Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services has provided an aggressive timeline for its consideration of the Bill: 9 October Briefing on the Electronic Communications [...]
[3 July 2018] ICASA will be holding public hearings to provide an opportunity for those interested parties who submitted written submissions on the Draft Regulations for Community Broadcasting Services to make oral presentations. The hearings will take place on 23 July 2018 at ICASA's head office, details for which can be found at the following [...]
[8 May 2018] The submissions made in response to the Discussion Document can be found below: American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa Business Carrier Coalition Cell C George Matlakala Internet Solutions ISPA Kagiso Media Liquid Telecom MTN MultiChoice National Association of Broadcasters Primedia Broadcasting South African Communications Forum Telkom Tracker Vodacom WAPA ___ [19 [...]
[23 March 2018] ICASA has given notice of the annual increase to be implemented in respect of radio frequency spectrum licence fees. The new fees will effective from 1 April 2018 and will increase by 5.3% based on the average Consumer Price Index (CPI). Notice Old fee (ZAR) New fee (ZAR) Unit Price per [...]
[16 March 2018] ICASA has updated the register of links in the self-regulated portion of the E Band. E-Band self-coordinated-register-February 2018 ___ [5 September 2017] ICASA has published a first register of links in the self-regulated portion of the E Band. E-Band self-coordinated-register-July 2017 ___ [29 April 2017] ICASA has published useful information on use [...]
[27 February 2018] ICASA has invited the public to comment on an application filed by Telkom on 16 November 2017 for the amendment of its Universal Service and Access Obligations ("USAOs"). ICASA commenced with the review of USAOs of licensees in 2008/09, with the intention of amending the obligations taking into account the changed circumstances [...]
[15 November 2017] The deadline for submissions on the Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill has been extended to 24 November 2017. __ [5 November 2017] The Portfolio Committee on Police will undertake a clause-by-clause vote on the Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill [B22-2017] on 30 November 2017 and intends to vote on its adoption on 1 December 2017. [...]
[11 November 2017] The finalised National e-Strategy Digital Society South Africa has been published in the Government Gazette: National e-Strategy Digital Society South Africa __ [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. [...]
[10 November 2017] The finalised National e-Government Strategy and Roadmap has been published in the Government Gazette: National e-Government Strategy and Roadmap __ [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 [...]
[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 [...]
[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 [...]