Withholding ICASA’s quarterly funding, withdrawing the draft ECA Amendment Bill and negating on the promise to publish a revised communications policy by 30 April is turning plans for South Africa’s broadband and communications for all in disarray! After ICASA told South Africa on Tuesday (29 April) that it would take the Minister of Communications to […]
MTN has become the first mobile operator to give 90% of South Africans access to long-term evolution (LTE/4G) coverage through the development of its 11 000th LTE site in the heartland of the Eastern Cape. This significant landmark site in Qatywa near the birthplace of former president, Nelson Mandela, shows that the extensive LTE rollout has […]
The cabinet has approved the study conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to determine the spectrum requirements for the Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN) as envisaged in the Integrated ICT Policy white paper. The white paper was approved by the cabinet in September 2016 but was opposed by many sectors of […]
In his recent budget speech to parliament, the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele, said that Sentech will conclude its business plan and funding model for a South African-owned communication satellite by building on the country’s national capabilities and partnerships. The aim is to reduce South Africa’s current leasing costs and build the […]
At the recent DTPS workshop to consider the input from industry on the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) Amendment bill, industry was criticised for failing to implement infrastructure sharing and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) were taken to task for not enforcing infrastructure sharing […]
The #DataCostDebate round table recently arranged by the Mail&Guardian and ICASA did little to develop a way forward to achieve data cost reduction. It was, however, an important lesson for mobile operators, who were accused of not communicating enough. It was said that when they do communicate, they create more confusion for customers who are […]
Government doesn’t want to own the proposed Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN) as contemplated in the white paper on communication and the ECA Amendment Bill. According to director general (DG) of the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services (DTPS), Robert Nkuna, it should be owned by industry, i.e. a consortium of operators. Nkuna addressed the […]
On Friday, 17 November 2017, Cabinet approved the 115-page Electronic Communications Amendment (ECA) Bill, giving the public and industry just 30 calendar days in which to comment, after which the consultation period will be closed and further objection prohibited. Minister Siyabonga Cwele and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) team have crafted a […]
In a report released by the GSMA, the organisations says South Africa is barking up the wrong tree if the Minster of Telecommunication and Postal Services, Dr. Siyabonga Cwele is continuing with his department’s plan to create one wholesale open access network (WOAN). The GSMA is a global organisation representing the interests of mobile operators […]
According to Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Dr. Siyabonga Cwele, progress is being made towards implementing the new ICT Policy. “Our preference for consultation is yielding the desired results because we are edging closer to an agreement on how best we speedily implement this very important policy,” he said. This statement was released by […]
