regulation

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is racing against time to issue mobile-television licences in time for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The move to will enable mobile television licence holder to deliver broadcasting of content via cellphones – following government’s commitment that there will be mobile-TV during the tournament.

ICASA councillor, Robert Nkuna, says there are two multiplexes (transmission of several TV channels on one frequency) that have been set aside for mobile-TV.

ICASA has announced on Thursday that it will be slashing interconnection rates by 27 percent in July this year - from the current rate of 89 cents per minute to 65 cents.

ICASA also announced that a ‘glide path’ that will see the interconnect rate cut to 50 cents in July 2011 and 40 cents in July 2012.

In the same vein, telecoms analyst, Richard Hurst, from IDC research house has been quoted as saying that it is about time that ICASA shows it has some teeth. Hurst argues that the rate cut is positive news for South African consumers.

Cellphone operators Cell C and Vodacom have announced that they will lower their tariffs next month – despite the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s rejection of its proposals.

Cell C chief executive officer, Lars Reichelt, says that, “In the interest of consumers and the country, Cell C is committed to the lowering of interconnection rates by March 1 2010.

A proposed agreement by mobile operators to reduce interconnection rates is ‘legally indefensible’ and ‘wrong in law’. This is according to the chairperson of Parliament's portfolio committee on communications, Ismail Vadi.

Ismail Vadi says that the practical effect of the agreement will be to tie the hands of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and prevent it from discharging its lawful responsibilities.
s