Ownership and Control Discussion Document

Posted by LA Thornton on Tuesday, January 12, 2010
ICASA recently published a discussion document on ownership and control for public comment.  You can download a copy here.

The issue is discussed separately for broadcasting services on the one hand, and electronic communications services on the other.  ICASA has indicated that the result of this consultation process in respect of broadcasting services is a recommendation to the Minister to alter the limitations on control provisions set out in the EC Act.  In respect of electronic communicati...
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Draft Facilities Leasing Regulations, circa 2009

Posted by LA Thornton on Monday, December 7, 2009
ICASA published another set of draft facilities leasing regulations for public comment.  You can download a copy here.

In case you were wondering - yes, you have seen draft facilities leasing regulations before, not once, but twice, since the coming into force of the EC Act.

ICASA published draft facilities leasing regulations in Government Gazette 30091 dated 24 July 2007. Those draft regulations were pretty good, eliminating most of the problems with the existing regulations, which had been p...
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Some Regulatory Priorities for 2010

Posted by LA Thornton on Monday, November 30, 2009
In 2009, the Altech litigation concluded, resulting in the licensing by ICASA of hundreds of potential competitors to the dominant incumbents, Telkom, Vodacom and MTN. 

Real competitiveness however relies on more than new licences.  It requires an effective legislative and regulatory framework, among other things.  I would like to take the opportunity of the year end to offer my thoughts on some regulatory priorities for 2010. 

Key aspects of an effective regulatory framework include effectiv...
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Call Termination Rates

Posted by LA Thornton on Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wow, what a lot of noise about call termination rates!

Don't get me wrong, this noise is far better than the almost complete silence on the matter for the past decade.  My optimism says the mobile providers will reduce their call termination rates in accordance with the agreement announced by the Minister today.  Even greater optimism says that this will translate into a reduction in retail rates. 

However, this will not solve the real problems that exist.  ICASA needs to be able to regulate e...
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Welcome General Siphiwe Nyanda, Minister of Communications

Posted by LA Thornton on Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Lisa Thornton Inc welcomes the new Minister of Communications, Mr Siphiwe Nyanda and the new Deputy Minister, Dina Pule. 

The ANC's main election promise was to provide services to those that had up to now, been left out, including education, health care and housing.  Electronic communications is increasingly being seen as an essential service, much like water and electricity.  Although South Africa has not succeeded in providing universal service to electronic communications, the opportunity...
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