Telkom is “gravely concerned” about the alleged leak of information from the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) of a supposedly confidential findings-and-recommendations document by the authority’s complaints and compliance committee to an industry body.
In a strongly worded media statement issued on Wednesday, Telkom says Icasa councillor William Stucke is alleged to have leaked the information to the industry body, which it doesn’t name.
“As a member of the industry regulated by Icasa, Telkom is dismayed by a possible violation of due process which will unavoidably jeopardise the trust and confidence of the industry in the regulatory processes,” the operator says in the statement.
“Furthermore, as a party directly affected, Telkom would be appalled by the breach, particularly if it was committed by an Icasa councillor, as alleged,” it says.
“Telkom is investigating the implications of possible damage it may suffer from the alleged conduct relating to the leak of confidential internal information if found to be true.”
Business Day newspaper reported on 3 August that Icasa had called in the State Security Agency to investigate claims that a councillor had leaked the information. The newspaper, which didn’t name a source for its information, said Stucke was alleged to have leaked the document. It said Stucke had allegedly confessed to the State Security Agency.
Stucke could not immediately be reached on his mobile phone on Wednesday.
In its statement, Telkom says it “expects that any person found responsible for such despicable conduct will be dealt with severely”.
“Telkom is of the view than an in-depth investigation is imperative to restore a sound relationship between Icasa and the industry that will undoubtedly be compromised should the alleged conduct be proved.”
The document that was allegedly leaked related to Icasa’s complaints and compliance committee’s investigation into a complaint brought against Telkom by rival Neotel, which it filed in November 2010.
Neotel was seeking access to Telkom’s last-mile infrastructure into homes and businesses under Icasa’s facilities-leasing guidelines, which determine how operators may gain access to each other’s infrastructure. According to the committee’s findings, Telkom contravened section 3(2) of the facilities-leasing guidelines. — (c) 2012 NewsCentral Media
