[16 August 2017] The judgement of the High Court in the Western Cape in the matter of Telkom v Dennegeur Home Owners' Association & Vodacom - delivered on 26 July 2017 - is relevant to the rights of licensees to lease electronic communications facilities as well as the rights afforded to licensees under Chapter 4 [...]
[16 August 2017] We would love to update this post more frequently but ICASA remains non-compliant with its founding legislation. __ [16 May 2017] No further records or minutes have been published since the below post... Section 11A of the ICASA Act - which came into effect during May 2014 - is clear about the [...]
[16 August 2017] ICASA presented on its cost to communicate program to a Select Committee on Communications and Public Enterprises on 2 August 2017. ICASA Presentation Cost to Communicate 2 August 2017 Narrative to ICASA Cost to Communicate Presentation 2 August 2017 __ [12 February 2014] ICASA presented an update on its Cost to Communicate programme [...]
[5 August 2017] ICASA has published its responses to the questions of clarity raised by stakeholders in line with its timelines, together with a list of sources which it had consulted in adopting the approach that it has. Questions of clarity priority markets 4 Aug 2017 List of precedent used One of the responses indicates [...]
[8 August 2017] ICASA has published draft amendments to the End-user and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations 2016. These amendments are generally pro-consumer and seek to make the following changes to current practices: Voice and SMS services: Notifications of service depletion to be sent to the end-user at set intervals and provision for end-users on post-paid [...]
[26 July 2017] ICASA has published a media release on the report, which can be found at the link below: Media Release ___ [1 July 2017] ICASA has published the findings of its review of the number portability regulatory regime. Number Portability Public Inquiry Findings Report June 2017 The executive summary of the findings is [...]
[26 July 2017] The deadline for submissions in the Bill has been extended to 10 August 2017. __ [4 July 2017] The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has issued an invitation to stakeholders and interested persons to submit written submissions on the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill 2017 [B6 – 2017]. The deadline for [...]
[19 July 2017] The CSIR hosted an initial “Capacity Determination Workshop” on 10 July 2017. This featured a CSIR presentation on the high level description of requirements from operators for modelling WOAN capacity and spectrum as well as presentations from the South African Communications Forum and the Black IT Forum. WOAN Capacity requirements workshop CSIR [...]
[14 July 2017] The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services has published a concept document which provides an overview of the South Africa Internet for All programme. The initiative sees government partner with the World Economic Forum and their global Internet for All project, which aims to accelerate access to the 4 billion people globally [...]
[10 July 2017] ICASA has released the International Telecommunications Union’s Long Questionnaire on telecommunications statistics / ICT indicators for 2017. The Long Questionnaire covers the period from January 2016 to December 2016 and consists of 57 indicators. Licensees are required to submit their responses by 11 August 2017 to kmphahlele@icasa.org.za and vnesengani@icasa.org.za 2017 ITU Long Questionnaire Letter [...]
[29 June 2017] ICASA is considering cancelling the licences held by four untraceable licensees in the event that these licensees do not submit information by 30 July 2017 to satisfy ICASA that they are active and using their licences. Any interested parties have until 30 July, 16h00 to respond via email: lmabulu@icasa.org.za ICASA release ___ [...]
[28 June 2017] ICASA has published a Reasons Document on the Consumer Advisory Panel Regulations which can be viewed at the following link: Consumer Advisory Panel Regulations 2017 - Reasons Document ___ [30 March 2017] ICASA has published finalised Consumer Advisory Panel Regulations which came into force on publication in the Government Gazette on 28 [...]
[21 June 2017] The DTPS presented to the Portfolio Committee for Telecommunications and Postal Services on 13 June 2017 regarding its progress in implementing the National Broadband Policy - South Africa Connect. Progress on SA Connect (13 June 2017) [19 March 2017] The link below sets out the detailed budget and associated activities for the [...]
[10 June 2017] The deadline for submissions has been extended to 30 June 2017, 16h00. ICASA Act 2000: Extension of the closing date for submissions to the discussion document: Equity ownership by Historically Disadvantaged Groups and the application of the ICT Sector Code in the ICT Sector in terms of S4B of the Act, as [...]
[10 June 2017] ICASA has published a notice and Discussion Document setting out its analysis of pro-competitive conditions imposed on licensees in terms of the Call Termination Regulations 2014, based on the review of those conditions as detailed in the posts below. Link to the discussion document. ICASA has concluded that: the definitions of Mobile [...]
[10 June 2017] The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services has confirmed that the updated National Radio Frequency Plan has been approved by Cabinet and the updated document is expected to be gazetted by ICASA shortly. ___ [8 February 2017] ICASA's media release and final schedule for the oral presentations are set out below. The [...]
[10 June 2017] The "Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on its deliberations on Budget Vote 3: Communications, and its Entities, Dated 16 May 2017” notes that while the Committee is aware of the delay in finalising the Bill, the “Committee’s interest is in ensuring that the Bill passes Constitutional muster and serves the purpose it is [...]
[8 May 2017] - ICASA has published the second annual State of the ICT Sector Report, which covers the 12-month period ending 30 September 2016 and can be viewed at the link below: ICASA Report on State of SA ICT Sector 2017 ICASA letter to stakeholders The report concludes with the following: The following highlights [...]
[29 April 2017] ICASA has published useful information on use of E-Band spectrum in South Africa in the form of a set of standard operating procedures relating to applying for licenses or self-registering links in this band. Standard Operating Procedures for the E-Band 28 April 2017 __ [28 November 2016] The amendments to the Radio Frequency [...]
[20 April 2017] ICASA has entered into a technical agreement with the communications regulatory authority of Mozambique. The agreement is aimed at strengthening relations with neighbouring countries to ensure an interference-free provision of communications services as well as collaboration between regulators, and will look to facilitate: Co-operation on the co-ordination, control and management of radio [...]
[20 April 2017] We have put together an overview and update document pertaining to Dynamic Spectrum Assignment and Television White Spaces in South Africa, which can be found at the link below. Status update on the use of Dynamic Spectrum Assignment and Television White Spaces in South Africa ___ [10 April 2017] ICASA has moved [...]
[11 April 2017] We have obtained a copy of the judgement of the Supreme Court of Appeal, which confirms that the appeal lodged by Neotel was dismissed on a legal technicality. Judgment - Neotel (Pty) Ltd v Telkom SOC others __ [20 March 2017] The Supreme Court of Appeal has declined Neotel's appeal. The finding [...]
[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 National e-Government Strategy - Digitizing government services Comments on the draft are due by 25 May 2017 and should be submitted to for [...]
[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. Draft National e-strategy - Technology working for the people to build an information and knowledge society Comments on the draft are due by 25 May [...]
[10 April 2017] ICASA has published a notice in the Government Gazette on 7 April 2017 noting that certain licensees are required to submit an annual forecast of licence fees using the format in Schedule 3(1), on or before 30 April 2017. ICASA requires that each licensee with a financial year ending in October, November, December, [...]
[2 April 2017] The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services has published a Draft Information and Communication Technology Small, Medium and Micro -Enterprise Support Strategy ("Draft ICT SMME Support Strategy") for public comment. Draft ICT SMME Support Strategy 31 March 2017 Comments are due by 30 April 2017 using email address ictsmmestrategy@dtps.gov.za marked for the [...]
[2 April 2017] ICASA has published a regulatory position statement to conclude the inquiry into equipment type approval exemption. Regulatory position on equipment type approval exemption 31 March 2017 The Authority’s position is set out as follows: Based on the International Benchmarking Study, written and oral representations from stakeholders, the Authority has taken the following [...]
[30 March 2017] ICASA has published an amendment to the Numbering Plan Regulations 2016 which extends the deadline for migration of machine related services to the 14-digit numbering block specified for this purpose to 28 September 2018. Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations 2017 The amendment came into force on 27 March 2017. ___ [20 February 2017] ICASA [...]
[27 March 2017] ICASA are increasing their fees in relation to Service Licensing, Type Approval and Radio Frequency Spectrum, effective from 1 April 2017. The relevant notices can be found below. Service Licensing Type Approval Radio Frequency Spectrum
[27 March 2017] ICASA has given notice of the annual increase to be implemented in respect of radio frequency spectrum licence fees. Notice in terms of Regulation 9A of Radio Frequency Spectrum Licence Fee Amendment Regulations 2015 Effective 1 April 2016, all radio frequency spectrum licence fees will be increased by 6.4% based on the [...]