by Tech Talk | Feb 22, 2023 | Articles
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has published for further public consultation, three Second Draft Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plans (RFSAPs) for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) systems.
The Authority had previously published ten RFSAPs for public consultation in Government Gazette No 46160 on 31 March 2022.
In the light of the submissions made by stakeholders, the Authority determined that three of the ten bands require a further round of consultation. These have now been published in the Government Gazette No: 48078.
The three bands are:
• • •
450 MHz to 470 MHz;
825 MHz to 830 MHz and 870 MHz to 875 MHz; 1427 MHz to 1518 MHz
“It is in the interest of the sector to delay the finalisation of the three RFSAPs in question, and to engage in a second round of consultation to establish all the factors to be considered in order to ensure that the spectrum can be awarded to the most valuable user in the near future”, says Chairperson of the Council Committee, Cllr Charley Lewis.
“Two of the bands in question have incumbents that have to be migrated, while most stakeholders argued for the third RFSAP to be extended to cover the full band – hence the necessity for further consultation,” added Cllr Lewis.
RFSAPs like these formalise the rules and spectrum arrangements for the spectrum in question. These assignment plans are aimed at identifying new high- demand spectrum that the Authority intends to make available for IMT services in the near future. Together, the ten RFSAPs will achieve a 215% increase in high- demand spectrum available for licensing through a competitive process.
“These three bands are an addition to the seven RFSAPs published last year. We are confident that the additional bands will provide licensees with greater capacity to meet the demand faced by the sector, improve access to data services, and reduce the cost to communicate”, said Cllr Lewis.
Stakeholder representations must be made by no later than Monday, 06 March 2023 at 16h00.
All written representations, responses, and other correspondence in terms of the published Notice must be directed to Mr Manyaapelo Richard Makgotlho Project Leader: Radio Frequency Migration Plan Council Committee, via email at rmakgotlho@icasa.org.za.
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by Tech Talk | Nov 2, 2022 | Articles
Communications regulator Icasa has sworn in four new councillors to its powerful decision-making council.
The councillors joined the regulator on Tuesday following an interview process by parliament and their subsequent appointment by communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
The new councillors are:
- Thabisa Faye, who leads an ICT consultancy called Pygma Consulting;
- Catherine Mushi, who left her role as a senior specialist in regulatory affairs at Telkom;
- Nompucuko Nontombana, who was previously manager of enforcement and exemptions at the Competition Commission; and Ntombiza Sithole.
Twenty-three people had been short-listed for interviews for the vacant council seats by parliament.
“Their arrival will serve to greatly strengthen the work of the authority as it regulates the ICT sector: telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services,” said Icasa acting chairman Charley Lewis in a statement.
“The appointment of the new councillors exemplifies our commitment to promote gender equality and the active participation of women at all levels of the ICT sector, including at the level of policy and regulation,” Lewis said.
Mushi and Nontombana commenced their term of office on Tuesday, while Faye and Sithole will commence duties on 1 December. – NewsCentral Media
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by Tech Talk | Oct 6, 2022 | Articles
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa will hold virtual public hearings in relation to the written representations received following the publication of the Draft End-user and Subscriber Service Charter Amendment Regulations in Government Gazette No 46153 on March 31, 2022.
The public hearings will be held virtually on 6 and 7 October 2022, from 9:00 a.m. (SAST).
The hearings are part of the Authority’s process of amending the End-user and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations of 2016, published in Government Gazette No 39898. These important regulations aim to promote transparency, to protect consumers against unacceptable treatment from operators, and to ensure high quality of service (QoS) in the provision of communication services.
The proposed amendments aim to improve the quality of service for electronic communication services, while also introducing new regulations for voice, SMS, and data services. The proposed amendments were necessitated by the need to add new quality of service parameters for electronic communication services, as well as to adjust some existing ones, in order for the Authority to continue monitoring and enforcing compliance with customer care standards in a changing environment.
The proposed amendments were also necessitated by general concerns raised by various stakeholders, including consumer groups, with regard to data expiry rules, high out-of-bundle rates and rules, and out-of-bundle voice and Short Messaging Service (SMS) rules currently applied by licensees.
“The amendments proposed by the Authority will have a direct and immediate impact on consumer welfare,” notes Committee Chairperson, Dr Charley Lewis. “Improved quality of service requirements, and simplified, more customer-friendly voice and data rules, will provide important benefits for end-users and subscribers.”
Interested stakeholders, members of the public and the media are invited to attend the public hearings, which will be held as follows:
Date: 6th and 7th of October 2022
Time: 09h00 A.M (SAST)
Venue: Virtual Hearings (Microsoft Teams)
Meeting Link: Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 311 370 126 359; Passcode: Kq63Eg
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