The mobile pricing discussion document published on 28 July in the Government Gazette number 27854 is still credible, says the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA).
This comes after complaints from Vodacom.
In a statement released yesterday, ICASA says it has not retracted the document, despite a statement acknowledging errors published on its Web site on 12 September.
Policy analysis and development senior manager Nontsikelelo Mbono says errors in the document relating to international price comparisons do not mean the whole document lacks credibility. Specifically, the errors relate to a comparison in subscription charges by operators in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Spain.
"Our intention is to look at the comparison table and rectify the errors some time next week," she says.
Mbono urged stakeholders not to lose sight of the fact that people from the business sector and government, including President Thabo Mbeki, have raised concerns regarding the price of telecoms in SA.
She says the perception that mobile prices in SA are high has not gone away due to the errors. It is the regulator`s duty to find out what the cause of the perception is, whether it is true and what should be done to address the problem, she adds.
Mbono also acknowledged receipt of a spreadsheet document from Vodacom last week, in which the operator noted its analysis of errors in the mobile pricing discussion document.
According to Vodacom, the price comparisons were not the only errors in the discussion document.
"It is important to note that only errors greater than 10% have been highlighted in the analysis," the Vodacom statement says.
Mbono says ICASA will investigate Vodacom`s claims, as the regulator cannot take what the company is saying at face value.
Related press release:
Vodacom responds to ICASA retraction
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