Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      Blue Label Telecoms to change its name as restructuring gathers pace

      11 July 2025

      Get your ID delivered like pizza – home affairs’ latest digital shake-up

      11 July 2025

      EFF vows to stop Starlink from launching in South Africa

      11 July 2025

      Apple plans product blitz to reignite growth

      11 July 2025

      Nissan doubles down on South Africa despite plant uncertainty

      11 July 2025
    • World

      Grok 4 arrives with bold claims and fresh controversy

      10 July 2025

      Bitcoin pushes higher into record territory

      10 July 2025

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025

      Grammarly acquires e-mail start-up Superhuman

      1 July 2025

      Apple considers ditching its own AI in Siri overhaul

      1 July 2025
    • In-depth

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025

      MultiChoice may unbundle SuperSport from DStv

      12 June 2025

      Grok promised bias-free chat. Then came the edits

      2 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | MVNX on the opportunities in South Africa’s booming MVNO market

      11 July 2025

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025

      TCS+ | First Distribution on the latest and greatest cloud technologies

      27 June 2025
    • Opinion

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025

      Singapore soared – why can’t we? Lessons South Africa refuses to learn

      13 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Opinion » Icasa is working, despite poor report card

    Icasa is working, despite poor report card

    By Willington Ngwepe21 October 2015
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp

    icasa-approved-640

    The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa this week tabled its 2015 annual report to parliament. It paints a bleak picture of the authority’s performance during the past financial period.

    The organisation is sitting at a desolate performance rate of 29%, meaning of all the targets we have set for ourselves (at least those on which the auditor-general measures us) we only achieved 29%. But this number is understandable when one considers the key findings by the AG, which are, among others:

    — That we underspent on our conditional grants.

    — That our performance information is inadequate and unreliable.

    — That our internal controls are deficient (including supply chain management processes).

    — That we have not managed national revenue fund receivables well.

    No one in Icasa is in denial about the problems (both internal and external) that the organisation faces and the reasons why the organisation has performed so poorly.

    Nor are we ignorant about the mammoth task that lies ahead if we are to turn the organisation around.

    In the midst of this bleak picture, it is important to highlight the notable achievements of the authority in the past year:

    — We have received an unqualified audit for a third consecutive year. Obviously, the ultimate aspiration is a clean audit. However, the fact that Icasa’s finances have been unqualified three years in succession means it is on the right track. It means we have the capacity to improve on our controls as well as our performance.

    — The impact of Icasa’s achieved strategic achievements have been of immense benefit. For example, we played a significant role in facilitating free and fair national elections in 2014 by ensuring equitable treatment of political parties by broadcasters. Also, the wholesale call termination regulations have significantly changed pricing behaviour in the market. And the regulatory framework for the licensing of the broadband spectrum bands is now firmly in place as a result of the promulgation of the “IMT roadmap” and the radio frequency spectrum assignment plans.

    — Finally, our performance on day-to-day operational activities undertaken by the people in the organisation in service to industry and consumers is not measured by the AG as they are mainly operational activities and not strategic. But we help keep the sector functioning. This work includes the assignment of spectrum not subject to extended procedures; processing of numbering applications; issuing of type approval certificates; administrative processes relating to licence transfers; and amendments. There is room for improvement in service provision and turnaround times. However, this is the one area where we continue (mostly behind the scenes) to make improvements on a day-to-day basis.

    During the briefing to parliament this week, we committed that the performance for the current financial year (2016) will be far better than the past year.

    We believe the measures we have taken so far send a clear message that Icasa is working. For the first time in many years, the leadership of the organisation took the firm view not to pay any performance bonuses to all staff due to the desolate performance. This has sent a clear message to all in the organisation that everyone will be held accountable for non-delivery going forward.

    We have also positioned the organisation, both structurally and functionally, to perform. The organisational realignment and restructuring is now complete and all divisions are aligned to work collaboratively to deliver on the organisational mandate.

    Furthermore, the requisite performance contracts, aligned to the organisational strategic deliverables, are in place for all in the organisation, especially the leadership team. For the current financial year, the organisation has set out to achieve at least 65% of its regulatory (and other business) targets. We will achieve this.

    While it is important to focus on resolving the internal challenges and getting the organisation working effectively and efficiently, we have not lost focus of what matters — making the sector work for the benefit of all in our country. To this end, we have already embarked on the following critical processes (some of which are long-term, multi-year projects):

    Social cohesion: We have published the draft regulations on municipal elections for consultation. We will work with the Independent Electoral Commission and all key stakeholders to ensure that the appropriate rules are in place to ensure that broadcasters treat all political parties fairly and equitably during the election period.

    Broadband deployment — spectrum: In recognition of the fact that spectrum is the life-blood of the industry, we have recently published the draft information memorandum on the licensing of the 2,6GHz, 700MHz and 800MHz bands. The licensing process will proceed without delay as soon as the necessary policy prerequisites are satisfied. We are also consulting on the regulatory framework for access to and usage of E and V band spectrum.

    Broadband deployment — infrastructure: Deployment of and access to broadband infrastructure remains one of the major priorities for the regulator and government. It is through diffusion of broadband infrastructure networks that the country’s noble broadband policy objectives can be achieved. Icasa is working with the department of telecommunications & postal services on infrastructure deployment initiatives including the rapid deployment policy guidelines as required in terms of chapter 4 of the Electronic Communications Act. The authority also has published a consultation document on infrastructure sharing, and this is taking place in parallel with the project on regulatory impact assessment on wholesale open-access networks. The outcome of these regulatory processes will inform the regulatory and licensing framework for network service licensees.

    The authority is encouraged by the recently announced improvements in South Africa’s standing in the World Economic Forum’s survey. We hope to see further improvements in the next year as we continue to implement the necessary measures to make the sector work.

    • Willington Ngwepe is Icasa’s chief operating officer


    Icasa Willington Ngwepe
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleSABC, Icasa draw fire over accountability
    Next Article Post Office struggling to pay staff

    Related Posts

    EFF vows to stop Starlink from launching in South Africa

    11 July 2025

    Icasa publishes new draft regulations for digital TV

    8 July 2025

    Operators to decide 2G/3G shutdown timeline

    2 July 2025
    Company News

    $125-trillion traded: Binance redefines global finance in just eight years

    11 July 2025

    NEC XON welcomes HPE acquisition of Juniper Networks

    11 July 2025

    LTE Cat 1 vs Cat 1 bis – what’s the difference?

    11 July 2025
    Opinion

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

    17 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.