[7 November 2023] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the 2023 State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023. The timelines involved are as follows:
Date | Activity |
6 November – 30 November 2023 | Questionnaire completed by industry |
1 December – 19 January 2024 | Data validation by ICASA |
22 January – 29 March 2024 | Analysis of data, development and publication of State of ICT Sector report by ICASA |
Licensees and resellers are required to submit their responses by 30 November 2023 to ictindicators@icasa.org.za.
Any queries can be directed to Mr Vincent Nesengani: vnesengani@icasa.org.za / 012 568 3687 or Mr. Kenny Mphahlele: kmphahlele@icasa.org.za / 012 568 3972.
ICT Questionnaire 2023 – Letter to Stakeholders
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[28 July 2023] ICASA has published the seventh annual State of the ICT Sector Report, which covers the 12-month period ending 30 September 2022 and can be viewed at the link below:
State of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector report in South Africa 2023
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[3 November 2022] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the 2022 State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022. The timelines involved are as follows:
Date | Activity |
04 November 2022 – 30 November 2022 | Questionnaire completed by industry |
01 December 2022 – 20 January 2023 | Data validation by ICASA |
23 January 2023 – 31 March 2023 | Analysis of data, development and publication of State of ICT Sector report by ICASA |
Licensees and resellers are required to submit their responses by 30 November 2022 to ictindicators@icasa.org.za.
Any queries can be directed to Mr Vincent Nesengani: vnesengani@icasa.org.za / 012 568 3687 or Mr. Kenny Mphahlele: kmphahlele@icasa.org.za / 012 568 3972.
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[29 June 2022] ICASA has published the seventh annual State of the ICT Sector Report, which covers the 12-month period ending 30 September 2021 and can be viewed at the link below:
State of Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector report in South Africa 2022
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[6 October 2021] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the 2021 State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021. The timelines involved are as follows:
Date | Activity |
07 October 2021 – 30 November 2021 | Questionnaire completed by industry |
01 December 2021 – 21 January 2022 | Data validation by ICASA |
22 January 2022 – 31 March 2022 | Analysis of data, development and publication of State of ICT Sector report by ICASA |
Licensees and resellers are required to submit their responses by 30 November 2021 to ictindicators@icasa.org.za.
Any queries can be directed to Mr Vincent Nesengani: vnesengani@icasa.org.za / 012 568 3687 or Mr. Kenny Mphahlele: kmphahlele@icasa.org.za / 012 568 3972.
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[9 April 2021] ICASA has published the sixth annual State of the ICT Sector Report, which covers the 12-month period ending 30 September 2020 and can be viewed at the link below:
The State of the ICT Sector Report in South Africa 2021
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[19 October 2020] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the 2020 State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020. The timelines involved are as follows:
Date | Activity |
12 October 2019 – 30 November 2020 | Questionnaire completed by industry |
01 December 2020 – 15 January 2021 | Data validation by ICASA |
31 March 2021 | Publishing of report by ICASA |
The questionnaire needs to be submitted by 30 November 2020, and can be directed to ictindicators@icasa.org.za
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[31 March 2020] ICASA has published the fifth annual State of the ICT Sector Report, which covers the 12-month period ending 30 September 2019 and can be viewed at the link below:
ICASA’s report on the state of ICT sector in SA – March 2020
The report concludes with the following:
The following highlights are worth noting for three sectors (telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services)
- The revenue reported for the three sectors (telecommunications, broadcasting and postal) increased by 4%, from R229 billion in 2018 to R238 billion in 2019. Telecommunications services revenue increased by 3.6% from R187 billion in 2018 to R194 billion in 2019, broadcasting services revenue increased by 3.8% from R36 billion to R38 billion and postal services revenue significantly increased by 19.9% from R 4.7 billion in 2018 to R 5.7 billion in 2019.
- Total overall employment numbers for the three sectors decreased by 8.2% in 2019. Over the same period, employment changes in the specific sectors were as follows: telecommunications sector employment decreased by 8.9%, postal sector employment decreased by 7.1% and broadcasting sector employment decreased by 7.3%.
The following highlights are worth noting for the telecommunications sector
- When we breakdown employment in the telecommunications sector by gender, skills and disabilities, the majority (23,334) of employees were classified as skilled, 2,863 semi-skilled, 558 unskilled and those with disabilities were 354 in 2019.
- Total telecommunications investment decreased by 17.1% from R46 billion in 2018 to R38 billion in 2019.
- As at September 2019, prepaid mobile phone subscriptions in urban areas was 77 million, post-paid mobile phone subscriptions in urban areas was 13 million, prepaid mobile phone subscriptions in rural areas was 4.8 million and post-paid mobile phone subscriptions was over 885 thousand.
- National population coverage for 3G increased form 99.5% in 2018 to 99.7% in 2019 and National population coverage for 4G/LTE increased from 85.7% in 2018 to 92.8% in 2019.
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[27 September 2019] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the 2019 State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2019. The timelines involved are as follows:
Date | Activity |
25 September – 29 November 2019 | Questionnaire completed by the industry |
2 December – 17 January 2020 | Data validation by ICASA |
31 March 2020 | Publishing of report by ICASA |
Licensees are required to submit their responses by 29 November 2019 to ictindicators@icasa.org.za. Any queries can be directed to Mr Vincent Nesengani: Lead Statistician by email: vnesengani@icasa.org.za / 012 568 3687.
ICT Questionnaire 2019 – Letter to Stakeholders
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[26 March 2019] ICASA has published the fourth annual State of the ICT Sector Report, which covers the 12-month period ending 30 September 2018 and can be viewed at the link below:
ICASA’s report on the state of ICT sector in SA – March 2019
The report concludes with the following:
- The revenue reported for the three sectors (telecommunications, broadcasting and postal) experienced a positive growth of 12.2%, from R204 billion to R229 billion in 2018.
- The telecommunications sector reported a revenue of R187 billion (an increase of 14.4%) and broadcasting revenue increased to R36 billion (an increase of 3.7%). The postal sector experienced a decline in revenue by 0.1% in 2018.
- Total overall employment numbers for the three sectors increased by 18.8%, from 51,993 in 2017 to 61,757 in 2018. Over the same period, employment changes in the specific sectors were as follows: telecommunications sector employment increased by 20%, postal sector employment also showed a double-digit increase of 21.9% and broadcasting sector employment increased marginally by 0.3%.
- Prepaid revenue mobile data increased by 8.5% whilst both prepaid revenue from mobile voice and messaging decreased by 2.9% and 22.4% in 2018,
- Total telecommunication investment in 2018 decreased by 1.5%.
- National Population coverage for 3G remained stable at 99% in 2018 and National population coverage for 4G/LTE increased from 76.7% in 2017 to 85.7% in 2018.
- Smartphone penetration in 2018 is at 81.72%.
- The LTE devices subscribers are 12,644,364 at national level. Gauteng has the highest LTE devices seating at 4,304,758 and the lowest is Northern Cape at 220,700 in 2018.
- The total number of Pay TV subscribers increased by 8.7% from over 6 million in 2017 to just above 7 million in 2018.
- Numbers of set top boxes and number of content distributors increased by 39.5% and 60.5% respectively in 2018. Number of Analogue Terrestrial Stations decreased by 74.1% in
- In 2018 the number productions by local independent producers was 1,022, from international independent producers it was 296 and productions by the broadcasters themselves stood at 414.
- After a sharp decline by 9.2% to just over R4.8 billion in 2016, the postal sector revenue has stabilised at just below that level for both 2017 and 2018.
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[16 November 2018] ICASA has issued a reminder to stakeholders that the State of the ICT Sector Questionnaire is due on 30 November 2018.
ICASA ICT Sector Report Reminder
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[28 September 2018] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the 2018 State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018. The timelines involved are as follows:
Date | Activity |
28 September – 30 November 2018 | Questionnaire completed by the industry |
3 December – 14 January 2019 | Data validation by ICASA |
29 March 2019 | Publishing of report by ICASA |
ICT Questionnaire 2018 – Letter to Stakeholders
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[28 March 2018] ICASA has published the third annual State of the ICT Sector Report, which covers the 12-month period ending 30 September 2017 and can be viewed at the link below:
ICASA Report on State of SA ICT Sector 2018
The report concludes with the following:
The following highlights are worth noting:
- The high response rate for 2017 has not affected the increase in figures, for example, leading companies’ contribution to revenue in both 2016 and 2017 was 99% and 97%, respectively. Leading companies’ investment spend made up 100% and 94% in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
- The total revenue reported for the three sectors that ICASA regulates increased by 9.1% in 2017 (it increased by 3.5% in 2016).
- Telecommunications and broadcasting revenue increased by 10.2% and 5.8% in 2017, respectively. However, postal revenue decreased by 0.6%.
- Total number of Pay TV subscriptions increased by 21.2% in 2017.
- Total number of employees for the three sectors that ICASA regulates decreased significantly by 14.4% in 2017.
- The population coverage of 4G/LTE services significantly increased from 75% in 2016 to 77% in 2017.
- South Africa’s overall 2017 ranking on the International Telecommunication Union’s (“ITU”) ICT Development Index (“IDI”) has decreased to position 92.
- Mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 people increased to 88% in 2016.
- Procurement spend from all suppliers based on the B-BBEE Procurement Recognition Levels contribution was 100.0% in 2016 and 61.5% in 2017 in the postal service sector.
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[9 October 2017] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the 2017 State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017. The timelines involved are as follows:
Date | Activity |
6 October 2016 – 30 November 2017 | Questionnaire completed by the industry |
1 December 2017 – 15 January 2018 | Data validation by ICASA |
31 March 2018 | Publishing of report by ICASA |
ICT Sector Questionnaire 2017
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[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
The report concludes with the following:
The following highlights are worth noting:
- The total revenue reported for the three sectors that ICASA regulates has increased by 3.5% compared to 2015.
- Total number of employees for the three sectors that ICASA regulates decreased significantly by 13.0% since the last report. The drop in numbers was experienced by all three sectors.
- The revenue from telecommunication services increased slightly by 1% in 2016, with the main contributor to this increase being mobile services with an increase of 4.3%. In addition, revenue from fixed line voice and fixed internet services decreased significantly by 13.1% and 7.5%, respectively.
- Mobile data revenue for the 12-month period ending 30 September 2016 increased significantly by 25.4%, while mobile voice revenue decreased by 5.9%.
- The population coverage of 4G/LTE services significantly increased by 26%.
- Mobile data traffic increased significantly by 55.0%.
- South Africa moved up 10 places on its ranking on the Network Readiness Index (NRI) to number 65.
- Mobile broadband connections (subscriptions) per 100 people increased by 10% in 2016.
We note that the data presented in the 2017 report comprises of 15 less ECS and ECNS licensee respondents as compared to the 2016 report, which should be kept in mind when assessing some of the figures.
Any queries in respect of the report can be directed to Mr Kenny Mphahlele: Senior Manager for Sector Forecasting by email at kmphahlele@icasa.org.za or on 011 566 3972.
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[1 November 2016] ICASA have extended the submission date by a week to the 7th November 2016.
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[20 October 2016] ICASA have amended the questionnaire due to a submission made in respect of the omission of pricing indicators.
ICT Sector Questionnaire (updated)
The timeline remains as indicated in the post of 20 September, found below:
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[20 September 2016] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the second annual State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2016. The timelines involved are as follows:
Date | Activity |
20 September – 30 September 2016 | Questionnaire reviews by the industry |
7 October – 31 October 2016 | Questionnaire completion by the industry |
1 November – 15 December 2016 | Data validation by ICASA |
31 March 2017 | Publish Report |
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The Authority requests that any comments and/or queries on the questionnaire are submitted to Mr Kenny Mphahlele by email on KMphahlele@icasa.org.za by 30 September 2016.
[5 April 2016] ICASA has published its first Report on the state of the ICT sector in South Africa, covering the year up to end September 2015.
ICASA Report on State of SA ICT Sector 2016
ICASA highlighted the following findings as valuable:
- The telecommunications sector generated about R147 billion in revenue, the TV broadcasting sector about R28 billion, and the SA Post Office (reserved postal services) about R5 billion.
- The telecommunications sector, TV broadcasting sector, and the SA Post Office employ about 58,000 (gender split of 23,000 females to 35,000 males).
- The largest employer is the telecommunications sector, followed by the TV broadcasting sector, and the SA Post Office.
- Telecommunications investment amounted to about R23 billion, with mobile communication services contributing R16 billion.
- South Africa has about 86 million mobile cellular subscriptions, comprised of 72 million prepaid and 14 million postpaid subscriptions
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[2 October 2015] ICASA has launched a new attempt to put in place the necessary structures and processes for the collection of ICT sector statistics. The gaps in collecting this information presents difficulties for decision-making and also places South Africa in breach of its obligations as a member of the ITU. ICASA’s intention is to design and implement an ICT sector data collection system to replace the multiple reports requirements currently required of licensees.
ICASA have appointed research house BMI-T to assist them in this endeavour, thereby exponentially increasing the chances of the exercise being constructive.
The below presentation was provided at the launch of this new initiative at ICASA’s Head Office on 29 September 2015.
See also:
ICASA ICT Statistics Questionnaire
ICASA request to licensees for statistics for the ITU