These regulations - published under section 88(2) of the ECA on 10 September 2012 (GG 35675) - define the term “Underserviced area” and sets out a list of district/local/ metropolitan municipalities together with percentages for Internet / Computer / Telephone/ Cellphone penetration based on the Stats SA 2007 Household Survey. Presumably these figures will be used [...]
[31 August 2014] Just a note to confirm that this process was never concluded and should now be regarded as having been abandoned. Updated radio frequency spectrum policy remains outstanding. ___ [1 February 2012] A notice was published in today's Government Gazette extending the period for comment to 29 February 2012. This will no doubt require ICASA [...]
The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) applies to ISPs, and if an ISP’s contracts or its processes do not comply with the CPA’s rather onerous provisions, this can have painful consequences. Annoyingly, the CPA will apply to an ISP’s smaller clients, but most of it will not apply to corporate clients. If an ISP wishes to [...]
[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 [...]
Broadband Infraco Act 33 of 2007 Broadband Infraco Annual Report 2011 2012
[29 April 2012: updated to provide ICASA presentations made at the workshop: 1 - Spectrum Fee Workshop Agenda 20120305 2 - Spectrum Fundamentals 20120305 3 - ETD Workshop - 05032012 EML prep 4 - Spectrum Fee Payment Process 20120126a 5 - Spectrum Fees 20120305a 6 - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW RADIO FREQUENCY SPECTRUM LICENCE 20120305] [...]
[29 April 2012] ICASA has published the Code of Conduct for Carrier Pre-Selection Phase 1 in terms of the Carrier Pre-Selection Phase 1 Regulations published on 27 September 2010. The Code of Conduct was signed by the ICASA Chairperson on 18 April 2012 and published in the Government Gazette on 28 April 2012. Carrier Preselection [...]
[5 March 2012] ICASA has withdrawn this process until further notice and pending the finalisation of the Minister's policy directions. The following submissions were made to the "ghost deadline" of 29 February 2012: AppChat Broadband Infraco CDG Cell C City of Cape Town DBI ETV GSMA Kawuleza MNET MWEB Orbicom Qualcomm Sentech SKA Telkom Vodacom [...]
[6 February 2012] Hearings now scheduled for 9 February 2012. [26 January 2012] these hearings have been postponed indefinitely as a result of the strike action at ICASA. According to a Media Release stakeholders will be informed of new dates in due course. Hearings will be held at ICASA on the 20th January 2012 as part [...]
ICASA has released their findings on the recently ended Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) hearings. In general the outcome of the process is disappointing and seems to be in the form of meeting obstacles to LLU raised by Telkom as opposed to using the available tools to achieve LLU. Given the expectations of the industry after [...]
[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 [...]
ICASA has released a reasons document for the recategorisation of medium-wave frequencies. A determination has been made by ICASA so as to provide a regulatory framework of all spare MW radio frequency spectrum within the catergories designated as per the Electronic Communications Act No.36 of 2005. Also given are procedures and criteria for the awarding [...]
The following is derived from the ICASA Annual Report for the period ending 31 March 2011 Registration of Class Licences and Unreserved Postal Services ICASA granted the following licences in the annual reporting period. Licences/Certificate Number of Licences Granted Community Television 6 Class Sound Broadcasting, including community, community low power, community Special Event and Commercial [...]
The following is derived from the ICASA Annual Report for the period ending 31 March 2011 Consumer affairs and complaints ICASA handles the resolution of consumer complaints in the sphere of communication services. The following table details the complaints received in the period ending 31 March 2011 Quality of Service complaints QUALITY OF SERVICE Description [...]
The following is derived from the ICASA Annual Report for the period ending 31 March 2011 Radio Frequency Licensing statistics At 31 March 2011 a total of 46 109 frequency licences for various services were held. Number of licences as at 1 April 2010 New Licenses Cancellations Number of licences as at 31 March 2011 [...]
Legal and the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) Legal and the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) provide support to ICASA in a host of litigation matters, the drafting and review of ICASA regulations and other regulatory documents, as well as providing legal advice and support to the various departments within ICASA. Litigation Matters The following [...]
The Number Portability Company (the NPC) has provided the following direction on how to register and attain accreditation with it for Geographic Number Porting (GNP) by ECNS licensees. How to register and gain accreditation for GNP Stage in the process Notes 1 Provide company documentation to the NPC Registered company name. Company registration and VAT [...]
[September 2011] Below are links to the various submissions made by interested parties in response to the LLU discussion document. Broadband Infraco Cell C Commercial Workers' Union (CWU) Internet Solutions ISPA MTN MWEB MyBroadband Neotel Paul Hjul South African Communications Union (SACU) Telkom Covering Letter, Telkom, Telkom Annexure A Vodacom [June 2011] LLU creaks back [...]
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 [...]
There has been confusion for a long time as to whether or not a Line Maintenance Organisation (LMO) licence was required in order for an entity to connect a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) to Telkom's telecommunications network. Telkom's insistence on the production of an LMO licence prior to the installation of a software-based PBX taking [...]
In order to "promote efficient use of numbers by operators and to eliminate potential misuse of numbers in the distribution channel such as retail stores", ICASA, after due consultation with affected licensees, has decided to introduce a requirement for the provision of numberless or MSISDNless SIM starter packs from 15 May 2009. From this date [...]
ICASA Numbering Plan Regulations (May 2006)
ICASA has given notice to licensees that it has established a Council Committee with the mandate to consider section 5(3) of the CPA and provide advice to Council. ICASA made it clear that it will undertake a consultative process before making a final determination on an application for exemption. ICASA Notification on the Exemption Process [...]
Consumer Protection Act 2008
The Department of Communications has issued a determination under section 82(3) of the Electronic Communications Act of 2005 (“the ECA”) setting out what is to be regarded as constituting (a) universal access by all areas and communities in South Africa to electronic communications services and electronic communications network services, and (b) universal provision for all [...]
This page is intended as a dedicated resource for regulatory documents relating to Geographic Number Portability (GNP), which was fully implemented in South Africa on 26 April 2010. From this date it became possible to port a single number from one provider to another (previously only blocks of 1 000 or more numbers could be [...]
The Interconnection Regulations, 2010 came into force on 30 June 2010. ___ Download the Draft Interconnection Regulations published 24 December 2007.
ICASA recently released Handset Regulations governing primarily the relationship between cellular providers and their subscribers. The regulations were to come into force on 18 August 2008 but this date has been postponed after Vodacom indicated they would apply for an interdict preventing the implementation of the regulations - ICASA Media Release (ICASA website). Vodacom denied [...]
To provide for the establishment of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa; to provide for the dissolution of the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority; to transfer the functions of the latter authorities to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa; to amend the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act, 1993, the [...]
ICASA have issued out a press release calling for comments on their Findings Document pertaining to the allocation of frequency spectrum where demand outstrips supply. Although it is not clear what status these comments will have (given that they were requested by press release rather than general notice in the Government Gazette) those who want [...]