[11 April 2021] Following its review of the current type approval framework, ICASA has published draft Equipment Authorisation Regulations 2o21 for public comment: Draft Equipment Authorisation Regulations 2021 Written submissions are due by 16h00 on 17 May 2021. These can be sent to lqabaka@icasa.org.za for the attention of Mr Lumkile Qabaka. __ [25 March 2020] ICASA [...]
[9 April 2021] ICASA has published the final Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, 2021 which will come into force 18 months from the date of publication in the Gazette (10 October 2022). Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, 2021 Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, 2021 - Reasons Document ___ [24 July 2020] ICASA [...]
[30 March 2021] ICASA has published its Findings Document and Draft Mobile Broadband Services Regulations for comment. Draft Mobile Broadband Services Regulations 2021 Findings Document on Mobile Broadband Services Inquiry ICASA is to be commended for completing this process within the indicated timeframes. Interested persons can submit written submissions to the Authority within thirty (30) [...]
[3 April 2021] The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies has published a Proposed Data and Cloud Policy for comment Proposed Data and Cloud Policy (1 April 2021) Comments are due by Tuesday 18 May 2021 and may be submitted by email to datacloudpolicy@dtps.gov.za completing the online form kindly provided by the Department using the [...]
[1 April 2021] ICASA has given notice of the annual increase to be implemented in respect of radio frequency spectrum licence fees. The new fees will be effective from 1 April 2020 and will increase by 3.3% based on the average Consumer Price Index (CPI). Notice in terms of regulation 9A of radio frequency spectrum [...]
[1 April 2021] The Regulations in respect of the Limitations of Control and Equity Ownership by Historically Disadvantaged Groups and the application of the ICT Sector Code have been published: Regulations in respect of the Limitations of Control and Equity Ownership by Historically Disadvantaged Groups (HDGs) and the application of the ICT Sector Code, 2021 [...]
[3 February 2012] The date for the switchover to the 116 short code as the exclusive way to access toll-free child helpline services has been postponed again to 15 March 2021. Notice extending use of the toll free number for child helpine services [2 February 2021] ICASA has encouraged licensees to implement a voice recorded [...]
[12 December 2020] ICASA has updated the register of links in the self-regulated portion of the E Band. E-Band self-coordinated register March 2020 ___ [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 [...]
[5 November 2020] The final report was published on 2 November 2020. Competition in the Digital Economy Report ___ [26 September 2020] The deadline for comments has been extended to 30 October 2020. ___ [25 September 2020] What is this document about? In order to harness the promised benefits of digitisation South Africa must create [...]
[4 November 2020] A memorandum of understanding entered into between the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) during July 2020 has been made public. The rationale for the MOU is to facilitate rapid deployment of electronic communications infrastructure necessitated by the COVID-19 crisis. 20200721 [...]
[19 August 2020] ICASA is seeking input with respect to the third meeting of the ITU Expert Group on the International Telecommunication Regulations (EG-ITRs) scheduled to take place from 17 – 18 September 2020, which will deal with the provision by provision examination of Articles 5 – 8 and Appendix 1 of the 2012 ITRs. [...]
[14 August 2020] ICASA reminds interested communities to respond to the Invitation To Apply (ITA) for pre-registration in respect of applications for Digital Community Television Broadcasting Service Licences and applications for Radio Frequency Spectrum on Multiplex 1 (Mux 1). There will be two phases to the process: Phase 1: Consideration of the applications for pre-registration [...]
[31 August 2020] The Constitutional Court has affirmed that licensees seeking to deploy electronic communications facilities on municipal land are required to comply with applicable municipal bylaws. Telkom, having come second in the High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal in its attempts to legitimise its roll-out of masts without complying with zoning bylaws, [...]
[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] [...]
[8 January 2020] The date for responses (completion of the questionnaire and related submissions) for the regulatory impact assessment on the End-User and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations has been extended to 18 February 2020 (previously 28 January 2020). Revised timelines for submission of written representations on regulatory impact assessment on the EUSSC Regulations ___ [13 [...]
[4 November 2019] ICASA has published an updated IMT Roadmap, 2019, which replaces the version published on 29 March 2019. International Mobile Telecommunications Roadmap 2019 (November 2019) Notice regarding the Final International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Roadmap, 2019 ___ [29 March 2019] The final IMT Roadmap has been published. A reasons document will be published in [...]
[31 October 2019] ICASA has published amendments to the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations, 2015, amending Regulation 7, paragraph (d), of sub-regulation (3) as follows: "(d) has less than 30% (thirty percent) equity ownership by Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDP) or is below a level 4 contributor (B-BBEE status) in terms of the Codes of Good Practice [...]
[4 May 2019] The Law Reform Commission has announced dates of workshops on its discussion document to be held around the country. There is to be a specific engagement with the ICT industry at the Commission's offices in Centurion on 13 June 2019. Workshops will be held as follows (venues to be confirmed): Centurion (All): [...]
[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 [...]
[12 December 2018] The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has invited stakeholders and interested persons to submit written submissions on the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill 2018. Submissions must be received by no later than 31 January 2019, with public hearings to be scheduled thereafter. Submissions and enquiries [...]
[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 [...]
[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 [...]
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 [...]