Cellphone rates under consideration

Johannesburg, 22 May 2006

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) is considering whether to regulate the costs of cellphone tariffs, following last week`s public hearings into mobile pricing.

"What happens now is further deliberation - we will be meeting as a committee and considering all the oral and verbal submissions thoroughly," says ICASA councillor Tracy Cohen.

"Within the next two or three months we will publish the findings," she adds.

Cohen explains that the discussions on mobile pricing will take into consideration the authority`s draft guidelines on interconnection and facilities leasing, expected to be published in June.

However, ICASA will not be forced to wait for the promulgation of the Electronic Communications Act in order to publish findings on last week`s hearings, she notes.

Though she declines to comment on the possibility that cellphone tariffs will be regulated by the authority, Cohen says: "If the operators are as convinced by their own submissions as they seemed to be, then, due to the high levels of competition, we should see a downward swing in mobile prices regardless of our processes."

All parties, except for the Freedom of Expression movement, which was scheduled to make verbal submissions, voiced their opinions at the hearings.

"In general, the hearings went well - the level of debate was extremely high and there was a broad expanse of viewpoints," reports Cohen.

However, the media coverage of the event was disappointing, she notes, especially considering this is a matter that affects many millions of South Africans.