[2 September 2015] Doing basic parental control of the content available on a mobile phone in South Africa is really simple. Unless you use Cell C or Telkom Mobile, in which case you will need to use a third party provider. There is really no excuse for not taking this most basic of measures if [...]
[12 August 2015] The Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013 came into force on 9 August 2015. The stated purpose of this Act is to give effect to the Republic’s obligations concerning the trafficking of persons in terms of international agreements; to provide for an offence of trafficking in persons and [...]
[16 June 2020] The President of the Republic has returned the Copyright Amendment Bill [B13B-2017] and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill [B24B-2016] to the National Assembly for consideration of the President’s reservations about their constitutionality. President Letter to Parliament re Copyright Amendment Bill 16 June 2020 ___ [10 August 2015] The Department of Trade and [...]
[8 August 2015] The Deputy-Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services – Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize during a speech at the ICT Achievers Awards 2015 Media Launch – provided information on the 2012 Information and Communication Technology satellite account which was released during the first quarter of 2015.This satellite account provides an overview of the role that ICT [...]
[3 August 2015] Nothing like a whiny post on an obscure blog to spur action :) Invitations have been despatched for follow-up meetings to the launch event and it looks like this initiative will live again come 17 August 2015. ___ [27 July 2015] Just noting for the record that nothing further has happened regarding [...]
[25 July 2015] The Minister of health has gazetted a Notice establishing a Ministerial Advisory Committee on e-Health and setting out its composition, functions, working procedure and the remuneration and allowances payable to its members. Establishment of Ministerial Advisory Committee on e-Health The Notice specifies the following definition of "e-Health": "e- Health" means the combined [...]
[13 July 2015] ICASA and the National Consumer Commission (NCC) have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement which sets out which type of consumer complaints each will deal with in future. Memorandum of Agreement entered into between the National Consumer Commission and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (July 2015) In broad terms: the NCC [...]
[8 June 2015] Indications are that the next two years will see the introduction of a number of Bills which are likely to impact significantly on electronic communications in South Africa. Under the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) there is now a clear path to the drafting of a new ICT Policy White [...]
See further http://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 [...]
[10 November 2014] We are informed that the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services handed over the doc.gov.za domain to the new Department of Communications effective 7 November 2014. Nominations should accordingly be sent to eadom@dtps.gov.za / zsibiya@dtps.gov.za. __ [3 November 2014] The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services has invited the public to submit nominations for members [...]
See further Numbering Plan Regulations 2016. [16 October 2014] ICASA has issued a notice extending the deadline for compliance with those provisions of the Numbering Plan Regulations 2012 relating to the implementation of new frameworks for the implementation of toll-free, premium-rated and machine-related services. Extension for compliance with toll free, premium rated, machine related services requirements [...]
[8 October 2014] ICASA has withdrawn the Findings Document published in GG 36537 on 7 June 2013. No reasons for the withdrawal have been advanced. Withdrawal Findings Document Broadcasting Transmission Services 3 October 2014 __ [10 June 2013] ICASA has published its Findings Document to close off its Inquiry into Broadcasting Transmission Services. Findings Document [...]
[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 [...]
[13 September 2014] ICASA has announced that it will conduct public hearings in connection with submissions received from 1 -3 September 2014. Notice of public hearings Press release: ICASA Convenes Oral Hearings On The State Of Competition Into The ICT Sector __ [11 August 2014] Summary of responses made with regard to Net Neutrality __ [25 July [...]
[7 September 2014] Updated version Overview of Electronic Communications Regulation in South Africa 2014 (September) ___ [26 May 2014] Updated version as at 23 May 2014 [further update to accommodate the recent Cabinet announcement and new institutional structure to follow soon, or at least once we have worked out the new lay of the land]. [...]
[30 August 2014] The Promotion of Diversity and Competition on Digital Terrestrial Television Regulations, 2014 came into force on publication in the Government Gazette on 22 August 2014. Promotion of Diversity and Competition on DTT Regulations 2014 The Regulations are intended to promote diversity and competition in digital TV and set out how spectrum will be allocated to [...]
[28 July 2014] The City of Cape Town is in the process of drafting a Telecommunication Infrastructure Policy which will provide guidance to telecommunications providers and municipal decision-makers as regards the deployment of electronic communications facilities and networks. The City has given notice in terms of Section 17 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act that [...]
[20 July 2014] Joint report of the Portfolio Committees on Communications and on Telecommunications and Postal Services on their deliberations on Budget Vote 27: Communications, and entities of the Department of Communications, dated 11 July 2014 Address by the Honourable Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele on the occasion of the Budget Vote [...]
[4 July 2014] A joint meeting of the Portfolio Committees for the Department of Communications (DoC) and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DoTPS) was held on 1 July 2014. Or wasn't, given that the DoTPS does not yet exist. While it is obvious that the confusion caused by the new political institutional arrangement [...]
[29 June 2014] Here is some simple advice on lodging a criminal complaint with SAPS if you are the victim of a cybercrime. Depending on which station you are reporting to you may have wildly-contrasting experiences - remember that patience and politeness are the most likely strategies to advance your own interests. Suggested process Draft as [...]
[3 June 2014] Our view on this judgement (external link) as expressed in an op-ed for Business Day. ‘Right to forget’ judgment will require careful balancing acts (external link to Business Day, may require free registration to view)
[31 May 2014] The Wireless Access Providers' Association (WAPA) hosted a Future Wireless Technology Forum on Thursday 29 May 2014. The initial gathering covered technology solutions and related business opportunities in the millimetre wave (mmW) band, with focus on V-Band (60 GHz) and E-Band (70 & 80 GHz). Future discussions will involve emerging technologies such as [...]
[22 May 2014] The Electronic Communications Amendment Act 1 of 2014 came into force on 21 May 2014. Proclamation of EC Amendment Act 1 of 2014 ___ [15 April 2014] Overview of the Electronic Communications Amendment Act 1 of 2014 ___ [8 April 2014] The Electronic Communications Amendment Act 1 of 2014 was assented to by [...]
[17 May 2014] The ICASA Amendment Act 2 of 2014 commenced on 16 May 2014 in terms of a proclamation signed by the President on 10 May 2014. Commencement of ICASA Amendment Act 2014 ___ [15 April 2014] Overview of the ICASA Amendment Act 2014 ___ [8 April 2014] The ICASA Amendment Act 2 of 2014 [...]
[11 May 2014] Precedent in telecommunications law is a rare thing. Below is a link to the judgement of the South Gauteng High Court which deals, inter alia, with the circumstances under which a radio frequency spectrum licence will have been deemed to have lapsed as a result of non-payment of annual spectrum licence fee. [...]
Updates to this thread on the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services thread [28 April 2014] In a speech delivered to a meeting of SIP 15 on 24 April 2014 - We’re moving on broadband in difficult circumstances – but we need to be faster - the Minister of Communications provided the following update on its progress [...]