Amazon Leo has told communications regulator Icasa that it may not be able to provide affordable satellite broadband in South Africa if the authority does not adopt a proposed “frequency factor” that would lower spectrum fees for higher-frequency bands. The warning came during Icasa’s public hearings on Thursday into draft amendments to the radio frequency…
Communications regulator Icasa has retracted a suggestion by one of its councillors that South Africa’s mobile operators may be colluding over new data expiry rules, an embarrassing climbdown for the authority three days after the claim was aired in parliament. In a statement late on Friday, Icasa said it had received “numerous requests for clarification”…
ICASA emphasises that the new rules aim to protect consumers as bill shock complaints continue. (Image source: iStock) The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has defended its data transfer regulations, saying they aim to prevent bill shock and ensure fair data usage. ICASA yesterday briefed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies…
Image is AI-generated for illustration purposes Communications regulator Icasa has said none of its services will be affected when staff embark on a protected strike from Thursday, 6 August. Responding to questions from TechCentral, Icasa confirmed that Nehawu, its recognised union, has notified it of the union’s intention to strike from Thursday over cost-of-living adjustment…
NEHAWU is one of South Africa’s largest trade unions, representing workers across the public sector. (Image source: iStock) The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has confirmed the forthcoming industrial action by members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), which is scheduled to commence tomorrow. In a statement to ITWeb,…
MTN and Vodacom have launched separate legal challenges against communications regulator Icasa over new consumer protection rules – including mandatory rollover of unused data bundles – that are due to come into force in January 2027. News24 first reported that MTN served court papers on 22 July asking for the End-User and Subscriber Service Charter…
The ICASA council is the highest decision-making body of the authority. Parliament’s oversight body, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, seeks public input on the 22 candidates shortlisted for the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) council. This, as part of the recruitment process to fill four vacancies on the council. In…
South Africa’s biggest telecommunications operators will square off with Icasa at public hearings in Midrand on Monday and Tuesday, after formal submissions revealed near-unanimous industry criticism of the regulator’s draft rapid deployment regulations – rules meant to accelerate broadband roll-out that operators warn could achieve the opposite. The draft regulations, gazetted on 10 April, are…
Communications regulator Icasa has gazetted the final regulations on the use of “innovation spectrum”, formally settling one of the most contested questions in South African spectrum policy. In terms of the newly published final regulations, the lower 6GHz band (5.925-6.425GHz) will be licence-exempt and available to wireless internet service providers (Wisps), Wi-Fi deployments, private networks…
Councillor Thabisa Faye, chairperson of ICASA’s satellite licensing framework committee. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published draft amendments to the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations, 2015, and the Radio Frequency Spectrum Fees Regulations, 2010, in terms of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005. The amendments are open to public comment for a period…
