ICASA takes open view on liberalisation

Johannesburg, 22 Nov 2004

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) today announced its understanding of the ministerial determinations aimed at liberalising the telecoms sector.

According to the regulator, a mobile cellular telecommunications service (MCTS) operator may self-provide its own fixed lines by obtaining facilities for fixed lines from a telecoms facility provider of their choice, but can only use those facilities in accordance with its own service licence.

Those that do not self-provide may only lease fixed lines from entities that are authorised to provide such facilities and can only use such facilities for fixed line purposes.

In terms of the provisioning of public pay phones, ICASA is developing a technology-neutral regulatory framework. It says that incumbent operators will continue to provide such services as per their existing licences, but where a third party provides such services, they will require a public pay telephone service licence.

Value added network service (VANS) providers offering voice over any protocol services will be required to provide access to emergency services via the 112 national emergency number.

The regulator says that regulations regarding numbering will be aligned to accommodate VANS licensees and that it is in the process of developing an interconnection framework for all licensees.

Self-provisioning for VANS will mean they can procure telecoms facilities from any telecoms facility supplier and use these in accordance with their licence to provide telecoms services, but the regulator also states that the determinations in no way affect the current restrictions relating to the ISM band.

Private telecommunication network (PTN) operators may resell spare capacity to anyone, but as the result of its potential commercial nature, ICASA may review licence terms and conditions.

Finally, in preparing the youth for the knowledge economy, the e-Rate will be applicable to all public schools as defined in the SA Schools Act of 1996, and all public further education and training institutions as defined in the Further Education and Training Act of 1998.