Lisa Thornton Consulting

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 is available now to change that situation. 

The regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has issued hundreds of converted licences and is on the verge of finalising regulations in a number of key areas.  However, it has become apparent that certain technical amendments to the Electronic Communications Act (EC Act) are necessary to allow Icasa to more effectively and efficiently regulate the industry. 

This confluence of events has created the opportunity for this new administration to make significant, speedy changes in the form of amendments to the EC Act, putting South Africa on a path towards a truly competitive industry with the hopes of reaching the goal of universal service soon.