DEPARTMENT: COMMUNICATIONS REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Private Bag X860, Pretoria, 0001, Tel. +27 12 427 8086 Fax: +27 12
427 8026 |
POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, DR IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI
2 SEPTEMBER 2004
In the past 10 years we have concentrated on reducing the disparity between the rural and the urban areas of our country and eliminating the inequities of our society inherited from the apartheid era. In doing so, we have worked at increasing teledensity and growing the ICT sector of our economy through a process of managed liberalization that we provided for in the Telecommunications Act.
In his State of the Nation Address in May of this year, the President emphasized the need to lower the cost of doing business in South Africa. He also charged us with creating a globally competitive telecommunications sector address the challenges of the 2nd economy.
To meet these challenges, the Information Communications Technology sector needs further change so that South Africa has:
We concluded the market study required by the Telecommunications Act No 103 of 1996 as amended, in December of last year. Arising from the study is a number of recommendations that address the following three main areas:
Accordingly, I am announcing a number of policy decisions and a date from which these decisions will come into effect as provided for in the Act.
These provisions are the first of a number of policy interventions designed to further accelerate growth in the sector, remove constraints for such growth, reduce the cost of telecommunications and facilitate appropriate interventions in the 2nd economy.
These provisions are sequential activities in the managed liberalisation of the ICT sector and cover the following areas:
As of 1 February 2005 Mobile operators may utilise any fixed lines that may be required for the provision of the service including fixed lines made available by Telkom or any other person providing a public switched telecommunication service.
As of 1 February 2005 persons may apply for a licence to provide public pay phone services in any area of the Republic.
The Department is considering the removal of licensing requirements to provide these services.
As of 1 February 2005 value added network services may carry voice using any protocol.
As of 1 February 2005 value added network services may also be provided by means of telecommunications facilities other than those provided by Telkom and the Second National Operator or any of them.
1 February 2005 shall be the date from when a person who provides a value added network service shall be entitled to cede or assign the right to use, or to sublet or part with control or otherwise dispose of the telecommunications facilities used for the provision of the value added network service.
As of 1 February 2005 private telecommunications network operators shall be entitled to resell spare capacity and facilities or to cede or assign his or her rights to use such facilities or to sublet or otherwise part with control thereof.
As of 18 January 2005 public schools and public further education training institutions will be entitled to a 50% discount on:
Further policy announcements will be made in October of this year as I indicated in my budget Vote in May. These announcements will address the issue of service-based licences to be operational by May 2005; the remaining Under-serviced Area Licences, the Second National Operator, the Convergence Bill and the ICT BEE Charter.
ICT is an input sector that contributes considerably to the growth of the country and the closing of the gap between the 1st and 2nd economies.
In the past decade we concentrated on addressing historical imbalances. Within the next decade we expect to have a world class ICT sector that contributes to stimulating development in our country.
We trust that these provisions will play a meaningful role in that regard.
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
399 DUNCAN STREET
HATFIELD, PRETORIA 0001
2 September 2004
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT DONOVAN CLOETE ON 083 417 6106