The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) is set to host public hearings this week on the draft value added network service (Vans) regulations in preparation of a managed liberalisation which gets under way from February 1.
Information and communications technology players are expected to make oral submissions at Icasa’s offices on Wednesday, including Cell C and MTN, the interest groups Communications Users Association of South Africa (Cuasa) and Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA).
ISPA is concerned that there is a lack of clarity on which services constitute a value added network and noted that the Telecommunications Act contains an “ambiguous and non-exhaustive list of examples” instead of a definition.
Subsequent to engagements with Icasa regarding ongoing uncertainty on the scope of Vans, ISPA submitted a document dealing with these issues but Icasa has not yet been able to provide a formal response.
Cuasa said the Vans operators who have already applied and paid the R5 000 application fee should simply have their licenses issued.
Other participants due to make submissions on the draft regulations during the three-day hearings are Bokamoso Consortium, M-Web, Orbicom, T- Systems and Transtel on Thursday and Internet Solutions, Telkom and Vodacom on Friday.
Bokamoso, which was granted an under-serviced area licence (USAL) in 2004 will ask Icasa why the mooted application fee for the Vans is R30 000 while they will be servicing a larger area, unlike the USAL operators.
Small enterprises also feel the proposed fee is exorbitant.
The public hearings — to be held at the Icasa’s offices — form part of a series in the regulator’s process towards a managed liberalised environment, as provided for in the Act.
As part of the government’s plan to engender a more competitive ICT environment while improving access to ICT services, all public schools and tertiary institutions will be entitled to a 50% internet discount with effect from January 18 – I-Net Bridge