During the past year the South African communications landscape suffered from failed promise after failed promise from the both the Department of Communications (DoC) and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS), but despite the lack of active leadership and delivery from the government, the industry has moved ahead with fibre to the […]
In 2016 one of the driving forces at the Future of Wireless Technology Forums (FWTF) hosted by the Wireless Application Providers Association (WAPA) is to address issues around the outdated equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) limitations in the licence-exempt bands for point to point (PtP) links. Jens Langenhorst, the newly elected chairman for 2016 […]
The World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) concluded its deliberations on Friday 27 November 2015 as delegates signed the Final Acts that revise the Radio Regulations – the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. In a statement by the Minister of Telecommunication and Postal Services Dr. Siyabonga Cwele said that overall […]
The recent SATNAC conference saw the minister of telecommunication and postal services deliver the keynote address. Media colleagues and I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Siyabonga Cwele, Minister of Telecommunication and Postal Services about the status of telecommunication in South Africa and government’s vision of broadband for all. “We are a new department […]
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published a document inviting industry to discuss and comment on proposals for the licensing of communication systems operating in the V-band (57-66 GHz) and in E-band (71-76 GHz) paired with 81 – 86 GHz. Over the past few years ICASA has received requests from industry for […]
South Africa’s Cabinet has approved the submission of the Films and Publications Amendment Bill despite public outcry that it is guided by policy seeking to curb internet freedoms. The cabinet said the bill seeks to amend the films and publications act of 1996 by adapting it to technological advances. These changes include catering for […]
Some eight months after a formal complaint was lodged on 11 December 2014 by a concerned group of specialist magazine publishers with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) against the South African Post Office (SAPO), the matter is dragging on and on, without an end in sight. The complainants are asking ICASA […]
ICASA’s primary mandate in relation to spectrum is to ensure efficient use of radio frequency spectrum. Critical to this mandate is the need to ensure that spectrum is assigned to licensees. In this opinion piece by ICASA’s CEO Pakamile Pongwana, he writes that it is important to note that the ICT sector in South Africa is […]
The South African Radio League (SARL) propagation research project is based on a number of automated beacons using a program called “Weak Signal Propagation Reporter” (WSPR). During July 2015 the scope of the project was greatly enhanced when a beacon was installed in Bloemfontein. For the past few months the focus was on short […]
During June 2015 the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) approved Neotel’s application for the transfer of control, subject to the finalisation of conditions in respect of the fulfilment of 30% of HDI and rollout conditions. In order to finalise these conditions, the Authority has embarked on a public consultation process and has […]
