Power Report: Feeding frenzy as SMS sharks attack napping consumers
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
New era dawns for ICT sector | IOL
South Africa’s government has finally moved ahead with a long-awaited information telecoms policy. Source: New era dawns for ICT sector | IOL
Ministers row with state firms | 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
SA spectrum decision to be reviewed? | IOL
IOL News Source: SA spectrum decision to be reviewed? | IOL
Ex-girlfriend’s porn pics revenge | 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
South Africa’s new Internet censorship law – FPB will force ISPs to block online content
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
Local ISPs voice strong support for net neutrality | TechCentral
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
Why the FPB wants Netflix to cough up R795k | Fin24
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
Netflix – don’t pay R795,000 to the FPB Source: Netflix – don’t pay R795,000 to the FPB
UN report tough on SA govt surveillance | ITWeb
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
Telkom SOC : Fibre optic turf war pushes speeds up and prices down | 4-Traders
Source: Telkom SOC : Fibre optic turf war pushes speeds up and prices down | 4-Traders
South Africa Urged by Regulator to Approve Spectrum Auction – Bloomberg Business
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
Protection from Harassment Act 2013, regulations and directives
[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 [...]
Services such as WhatsApp could face regulation in SA | Telecoms & Technology | BDlive
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
Scary new Internet censorship law for South Africa
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 [...]
Final ICT Policy Review Recommendations
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 [...]
ICT Satellite Account
[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 [...]
ICASA and the National Consumer Commission
[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 [...]
Press Council, FPB lock down content regulation deal | Fin24
The Film and Publications Board has agreed in principle to defer the regulation of online press content to the Press Council of South Africa. Source: Press Council, FPB lock down content regulation deal | Fin24
‘Just dump SA digital TV migration’ | Fin24
South Africa's adoption of digital terrestrial television (DTT) should be carefully evaluated and perhaps even dumped, says an industry insider. Source: 'Just dump SA digital TV migration' | Fin24
ISPA’s three wishes
ISPA has asked for greater competition through open access, an understanding of net neutrality, and a regulator that is equipped to translate policy into practice. Source: ISPA’s three wishes
Last chance for missing licensees
[3 May 2015] ICASA has published a notice in the Gazette and issued a press release notifying four holders of service licences granted under the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005. In a way it is astonishing that it has taken this long.... In any event Inburru Technologies (Pty) Ltd Primetel (Pty) Ltd Netralink (Pty) [...]
DoC Broadcasting Policy Review
[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 [...]
City of Cape Town draft Telecommunication Infrastructure Policy
[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 [...]
ICASA Amendment Act 2014
[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 [...]
WBS v ICASA – judgement on confiscations and spectrum fees dispute
[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. [...]
Consultative process to develop a comprehensive paper on the taxation of electronic services
[16 April 2014] National Treasury notes in a press release that the growth and development of electronic services raises many complex issues, and hence that traditional tax (both indirect and direct) and regulatory measures may not be as effective in meeting their objectives as they for traditional goods and services. There is a need to modernise [...]
Paul Hjul’s submission on the ICT Green Paper
Hjul Submissions to the ICT Policy Panel - March 2014
Local Loop Unbundling / Wholesale open access
[3 March 2014] The following are the outcomes - as we understand them - of the informal workshop held at ICASA on the 18th February: There is scope for a trial of LLU to take place at a currently underutilised rural Telkom exchange. This will be arranged and a working group is to be established [...]
ICASA ICT Statistics Questionnaire
[21 August 2013] ICASA have released a questionnaire designed to collect information from licensees for the purpos developing an up-to-date set of "Status of the Sector" reports preparing for upcoming market reviews into the effectiveness of competition in the ICT sector meeting SA's reporting obligations to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Licensees are required to [...]