Communications Users’ Association of South Africa (Cuasa) new chairperson Edwin Thompson says the organisation will continue to lobby for legislative and regulatory pressure to yield effective competition in the telecommunications and other information and communications technology (ICT) sectors.
Thompson’s appointment comes at a time when South Africa awaits the arrival of the second national operator (SNO) and a competitive era as the market opens up to more ICT players due to liberalisation.
The newcomer hailed his predecessor, Mike van den Bergh, for “tirelessly representing our members on a wide variety of issues”. The outgoing boss was not available for re-election due to a potential conflict of interest.
Van den Bergh is MD at Gateway Communications, one of the SNO shareholders.
Thompson noted his predecessor’s leadership for Cuasa’s ability to challenge the significant authority and power of “monopolistic and quasi-monopolistic telecommunications service providers” over the past five years.
The new chairperson said he will ensure that the organisation continues to lobby the government and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) in pursuit of a more free and fair telecommunications and ICT market for the good of communications users and the country’s economy.
Prior to assuming the role of chairpersonship, Thompson served as an executive member since Cuasa’s formation. He has been involved in the telecommunications industry since 1982 and is also a senior executive at internet service provider UUNet South Africa.
“Cuasa is an important organisation in South Africa’s current telecommunications environment and I am grateful for this opportunity to sit at its helm and lead the local community into more affordable, available and adaptable communication possibilities,” Thompson said.
Meanwhile, Icasa will early in 2006 hold public hearings into what Cuasa derides as “obscene” cellphone costs following its formal complaint in May. — I-Net Bridge