The department of communications is to convene a national stakeholders` colloquium in February to discuss its new telecommunications policy and amendments to the Telecommunications Act.
The gathering comes as government grapples with legislation that will balance infrastructure and social development goals when fixed-line competition is introduced in 2002 or 2003.
Issues on the agenda include competition and market structure, wireless spectrum usage, convergence, empowerment, universal access and new telecommunications technologies.
Although invitations to the event have not been finalised, it is hoped a wide spectrum of interested parties will participate. The department says international organisations and companies will not be invited, despite the fact that international partners are likely to feature in any consortium entering the telecommunications arena.
The colloquium will take place at the Eskom Conference Centre in Midrand from 9 to 11 February and written recommendations on future policy must reach the department by 22 January.
Time is running out for the legislative amendment as competition is set to be introduced by May 2002, and potential operators have said they require at least 12 months to complete network preparations before starting operations.
Department director general Andile Ngcaba has indicated multi-level competition will be considered at the end of Telkom`s exclusivity period, with a number of operators licensed to provide services at different tiers and in different geographical areas.
The department of public enterprise has said it will combine the telecommunications abilities of Transtel, Sentech and Eskom to form the basis of a second national fixed-line operator, one that will already have an extensive network in place.
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