CONTENTS
GOVERNMENT SCORECARD
This contain details relating to how government is meeting its obligations with regard to the sections above.
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Telecommunications
Draft Electronic Communications Amendment Bill
No progress with the Bill or otherwise with the implementation of the White Paper.
High demand spectrum
No progress. The CSIR report on the spectral requirements of the WOAN remains outstanding or outside of the public domain.
SA’s ban on spectrum trading makes no sense
Cost to Communicate
The NCOP Select Committee on Communications and Public Enterprise hosted a stakeholder briefing on reducing the cost to communicate on 28 March 2018. Copies of presentations made by ICASA, Telkom, MTN and Cell C are available from the links in the next column (we are still awaiting finalised minutes of the session).
ICASA’s presentation:
The NCOP Select Committee on Communications and Public Enterprise hosted a stakeholder briefing on reducing the cost to communicate on 28 March 2018. Copies of presentations made by ICASA, Telkom, MTN and Cell C are available from the links in the next column (we are still awaiting finalised minutes of the session).
ICASA’s presentation:
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- The current elements of the ICASA Cost to Communicate programme:
- Reductions in wholesale call termination rates;
- Process to determine which markets should be prioritised for intervention under Chapter 10 of the ECA;
- Process to determine validity periods for data bundles and reduce disparity between in-and-out-of-bundle rates (ICASA indicated that the relevant regulations would be finalised by the end of March 2018 but this has not been done); and o Supporting the Competition Commission Data Services Market Inquiry.
- ICASA’s analysis of tariffs shows that SA data rates are competitive relative to SADC and BRICs.
- The current elements of the ICASA Cost to Communicate programme:
[Note: it is way past time that an authoritative data set is compiled and maintained to manage the wildly varying claims made around SA’s comparative cost to communicate….]
- Plans to ensure regular publication of industry data to empower consumers (e.g. tariffs analysis report).
- Delays in digital migration and assignment of spectrum remain a challenge to mobile operators. The presentations from the operators stressed (1) how much they have reduced the cost of voice and data services and continued to invest in infrastructure (2) notwithstanding failure to assign spectrum and policy uncertainty.
ICASA identification of priority markets
Reminder that comments on ICASA’s Discussion Document identifying three markets for prioritised intervention under Chapter 10 of the Electronic Communications Act are due by 25 April 2018.
Ellipsis Overview of the Discussion Document on Priority Markets
Dynamic Spectrum Access / Television White Spaces
Worthwhile interview on the basics and potential applications of dynamic spectrum access in television white spaces.
Interview: Roger Hislop on TV white-spaces spectrum
Annual adjustment to fees for type approval applications
ICASA has given notice of the annual increase to be implemented in respect of applications for type approval certification of telecommunications equipment. The new fees will be effective from 1 April 2018 and will increase by 5.3% based on the average Consumer Price Index (CPI).
ITU Questionnaire for licensees
ICASA has released the International Telecommunications Union’s Short Questionnaire on telecommunications statistics for 2017. The Short Questionnaire consists of 14 indicators and covers the period from January 2017 to December 2017. Licensees are required to submit their responses by 10 April 2018 to ictindicators@icasa.org.za.
2017 ITU Short Questionnaire (NEEDS LINK)
Number Portability
ICASA has finalised its review of the existing regulations and published a new set of regulations governing number portability in South Africa.
Number Portability Regulations 2018
Note that these regulations will only to come into force on a future date – ICASA will publish a further notice providing 60 days’ notice of the date they will take effect.
ICASA
The Communications Portfolio Committee – acting after receipt of a letter from the Minister of Communications to initiate a process to remove Mr Rubben Mohlaloga from the Council of ICASA – recommended on 27 March 2018 that Mr Mohlaloga be removed as council chairperson and councillor. The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court convicted Mr Mohlaloga of fraud and money laundering on 15 January 2018. The removal must be confirmed by the National Assembly.
ICASA chairperson’s sentencing postponed
SADC Roaming
ICASA provided an update on the SADC Home and Away Roaming (SHAR) Project in Parliament on 28 March 2018:
- Phase I: SA fully compliant with tariff transparency guidelines.
- Phase II: Calculations have been completed and negotiations to reduce roaming rates which are above the calculated ceilings are underway.
- 53% of actual wholesale tariffs are below ceilings, and
- 49% of actual retail tariffs are below ceilings.
SA therefore complies with the SADC ICT Ministerial directive as this is consistent with the approach adopted by countries that have implemented the directive.
- Phase III: CRASA has appointed a service provider to develop the SADC Roaming Cost Model, to be completed in 12 months i.e. 3rd Quarter of 2018.
Online Content Regulations
Film and Publications Amendment Bill
No update: the Bill remains before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) – no date has been scheduled for the consideration of the Bill.