[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 [...]
[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 [...]
[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 [...]
[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 [...]
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The Internet Service Providers’ Association (Ispa) on Monday called on South Africa’s mobile operators to “embrace the open-access spirit” of government’s national integrated ICT policy white paper by launching “genuine wholesale service offerings”. This, the association said Source: ISPs tell mobile networks to open up | TechCentral
A body that represents the bulk of South Africa’s Internet service provider community has described government’s national integrated ICT policy white paper as “broadly positive”, but warned against lack of proper implementation. The white paper, which has Source: White paper ‘broadly positive’: ISP body | TechCentral
Seldom does a day go by without someone e-mailing me in an attempt to scam me. Source: Power Report: Feeding frenzy as SMS sharks attack napping consumers
[15 October 2016] Department of Communications Annual Report 2015/2016 & Auditor General briefing on DoC Perfomance 2015/16 ___ [20 April 2016] Department of Communications Strategic Plan 2015.16 - 2019.20 ___ [8 August 2015] Annual Performance Plan 2015/16 - 2017/18 & Strategic Plan Medium-Term Period 2015/16 – 2019/20 ___ [1 June 2015] The Portfolio Committee on Communications debated and [...]
South Africa’s government has finally moved ahead with a long-awaited information telecoms policy. Source: New era dawns for ICT sector | IOL
A series of public spats between cabinet ministers, state companies and departments are exposing divisions in the ruling party. Source: Ministers row with state firms | IOL
IOL News Source: SA spectrum decision to be reviewed? | IOL
A 37-year-old man had been left red-faced after his ex-girlfriend sent pornographic images to his friends and WhatsApp contacts. Source: Ex-girlfriend’s porn pics revenge | IOL
Ellipsis Regulatory Solutions has provided an overview of the Film and Publication Board’s new Online Regulation Policy. Source: South Africa’s new Internet censorship law – FPB will force ISPs to block online content
The Internet Service Providers' Association (Ispa), the body that represents most of South Africa's ISPs, has again reiterated that it supports the concept of network neutrality. It said in a statement on Friday that there should be no blocking Source: Local ISPs voice strong support for net neutrality | TechCentral
[20 April 2016] USAASA 2017-2021 Strategic Plan ___ [5 November 2015] Universal Service And Access Agency of South Africa Annual Report 2014/15 (32MB) USAF Annual Report 2014/15 (28 MB) USAASA USAF Annual Report 2014/15 Presentation
[15 April 2016] There has been some progress with the finalisation of a shortlist of ten nominations for the five positions on the information regulator to be formed under the Protection of Personal Information Act. The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services shortlisted: Pansy Tlakula, Johannes Weapond, David Taylor, Advocate Lebogang Stroom, Lindelo Snail, Siyakhula Simelane, Thav [...]
Content classification authority the Film and Publication Board has explained why online video services like Netflix are urged to pay a R795 000 licensing fee. Source: Why the FPB wants Netflix to cough up R795k | Fin24
Netflix – don’t pay R795,000 to the FPB Source: Netflix – don’t pay R795,000 to the FPB
A UN report says government needs to increase the transparency of its surveillance policy and establish independent oversight mechanisms. A new repor.. Source: UN report tough on SA govt surveillance | ITWeb
[3 April 2016] A release from the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services notes that the 41 person strong SA delegation to WRC 2015 “played a significant role in securing major outcomes for spectrum management to be integrated into national regulatory arrangements over the next 12 months”. Outcomes of WRC-2015 in Geneva, Switzerland Final Acts WRC-15 [...]
Source: Telkom SOC : Fibre optic turf war pushes speeds up and prices down | 4-Traders
South Africa must end years of deliberation and approve the auction of radio spectrum so mobile-network operators can roll out high-speed broadband services to communities across the country, the telecommunications regulator said.Source: South Africa Urged by Regulator to Approve Spectrum Auction - Bloomberg Business
[2 February 2016] The Women's Legal Centre has published A Simplified Guide to the Protection from Harassment Act - if you are experiencing what is or what you think is harassment, this is an excellent place to start. ___ [30 May 2013] The Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2011 ("the PFHA") came into force on [...]
Over-the-top services such as Skype and Google Hangouts allow users to send messages and call over data networks at comparatively lower costs Source: Services such as WhatsApp could face regulation in SA | Telecoms & Technology | BDlive
Ellipsis director and regulatory expert Dominic Cull highlighted that it is not significant that the bill has been approved by Cabinet.“The debate only begins when the bill is introduced in Parliament,” said Cull. “Don’t expect the bill to look the same coming out as it did going in.”Cull said the process of drafting an online content [...]
Contents OPEN INTERNET AND NET NEUTRALITY. 4 R3. OPEN INTERNET POLICY. 4 R4. NET NEUTRALITY LIMITATIONS. 4 R5. BROADBAND INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE AS AN ESSENTIAL FACILITY. 5 CONVERGENCE. 5 R15. POLICY OBJECTIVES UNDERPINNING CONVERGENCE. 5 R56. IP BASED TECHNOLOGIES. 6 R57. OVER-THE-TOP (OTT) SERVICES. 6 R72. POLICY FOR CLOUD COMPUTING.. 7 COMPETITION ISSUES. 8 R16. ANNUAL [...]
[16 September 2015] ICASA has issued out an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the issuing of radio frequency spectrum licences making up the third Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT3) – referred to as multiplexer 3 (MUX 3) in the Promotion of Diversity and Competition on Digital Terrestrial Television Regulations 2014 for the purpose of providing commercial subscription [...]
[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 [...]
[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 [...]