The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) ought to cut mobile termination rates in half, to 20c/minute, and do so at one fell swoop rather than using a “glide path” as it did when imposing previous cuts in the rates, says Telkom Mobile MD Attila Vitai. Termination
South Africa’s communications regulator is failing to perform and allowing mobile service companies to “rip off” the poor, MPs said on Wednesday. MPs in the labour & public enterprises select committee were briefed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) on the high cost of broadband and
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has outlined the reasons it decided to allow the troubled pay-television operator On Digital Media to launch adult-themed channels on its TopTV platform. Icasa gave TopTV the go-ahead to launch three channels – Private Spice, Desire TV and
Mobile TV, the company hoping to introduce mobile television services in South Africa using Korea’s digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) standard, believes there will be substantial demand for its services. But rival Kagiso Media is less convinced. The company wants to offer
Don’t look now, but something profound is happening at Telkom. The new management team, led by group CEO Sipho Maseko and board chairman Jabu Mabuza, appears to be actively trying to change (well-founded) perceptions that the company is a litigious and rapacious
Mindset Media Enterprises, the commercial arm of the not-for-profit Mindset Network, has applied for a pay-television licence to bolster its existing educational and health content offerings. However, Kagiso Media, which is also seeking a licence from the Independent Communications Authority
The Internet Service Providers’ Association (Ispa) has called on parliament to insist that mobile operators provide wholesale access to their data networks to Internet service providers as a meaningful way of reducing the cost to communicate in South Africa. Ispa regulatory head
Close-T Broadcast Network Holdings, which has applied to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) for a satellite pay-TV licence, wants to offer customisable bouquets of channels and content targeting the the gay, lesbian and transgender communities. Director
Reductions in mobile termination rates, the fees operators charge each other to carry calls between their networks, has had a direct impact on the retail price of prepaid telephony in South Africa, but tariffs are still far higher than elsewhere in Africa and further big cuts are needed
South Africa is taking concrete steps towards introducing digital radio broadcasts using a standard known as DAB+, with a trial planned for 2014. The move will usher in greater competition in the radio sector, with digital eventually likely to replace the familiar FM and AM dials. Radio broadcasters
