[21 October 2020] ICASA will hold public hearings on its Discussion Document on the Market Inquiry into Mobile Broadband Services on 26 and 27 October 2020. The hearings will be held at Radisson Blu Gautrain, Sandton with remote participation available on the Microsoft Teams platform. ICASA to hear submissions with respect to the mobile broadband [...]
[30 September 2020] In a judgement by the High Court on the unreported matter of Lesedi Africa Productions CC versus the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (“ICASA”) and three others, Fabricius J provided some clarity on how section 13(1) of the ECA applies to changes in the ownership of a licensee. Please see here [...]
[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 a commercial and regulatory environment designed to extract those benefits and distribute them in a way that ensures inclusive [...]
[30 August 2020] The Minister has published a notice that the deadline for submissions on the Draft Film and Publications Regulations 2020 has been extended to 12 October 2020. Notice of extension ___ [15 August 2020] The FPB is engaging with various stakeholder groups on the Draft Film and Publications Regulations, 2020 based on the [...]
[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 [...]
[8 August 2020] ellipsis Summary of Draft Policy & Policy Directions on Rapid Deployment August 2020 ___ [22 July 2020] Out of the blue, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies has published draft policy and policy directions on the rapid deployment of electronic communications networks and facilities for public comment. Draft Policy Direction on [...]
[24 July 2020] ICASA has extended the deadline for submissions on the draft “Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations” to 14 August 2020. ICASA extends closing date for written submissions in respect of the Draft Code for Persons with Disabilities ___ [25 June 2020] ICASA has published draft “Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations” for [...]
[16 April 2020] ICASA has published the Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations, 2020 which will come into force three months from the date of publication in the government gazette (15 April 2020). Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations, 2020 ___ [3 March 2019] ICASA has published draft amendments to the Numbering Plan Regulations 2016 intended to harmonise use [...]
[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] [...]
[25 March 2020] 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 4.1% based on the average Consumer Price Index (CPI). Notice in terms of regulation 9A of radio frequency spectrum [...]
[25 March 2020] ICASA has given notice of the annual increase to be implemented in respect of type approval administrative fees. The new fees will be effective from 1 April 2020 and will increase by 4.1% based on the average Consumer Price Index (CPI). Notice regarding the increase of administrative fees in relation to type [...]
[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 [...]
[7 October 2019] The City of Tshwane has published a draft micro-trenching policy for public comment. CoT Draft Micro-trenching policy V1.3 (2) Comments should be sent by email to deonvi@tshwane.gov.za by no later than 16h00 on 15 October 2019. This is the first instance we are aware of where a local government is indicating micro-trenching [...]
[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 [...]
[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 [...]
[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 [...]