South Africa’s 5G population coverage surged from 46.6% to 58% in a single year, the biggest network coverage jump recorded in communications regulator Icasa’s latest State of the ICT Sector report — but rural areas remain drastically underserved, with some provinces offering next-generation connectivity to as few as 7% of their rural populations. The national…
Parliament has called for nominations to fill four vacant positions on the council for communications regulator Icasa, the department of communications & digital technologies said on Thursday. An Icasa spokeswoman told TechCentral that the outgoing councillors are Cathrine Mushi, Thabisa Faye, Ntombiza Sithole and Nompucuko Nontombana. “The strength of our communications regulator depends on the…
Four vacancies need to be filled on the ICASA council. Parliament has issued a call for nominations to fill four vacancies on the council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). In a statement, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies says it seeks suitably qualified and experienced South African citizens with…
Icasa CEO Tshiamo Maluleka-Disemelo Communications regulator Icasa expects to appoint a service provider, or providers, next month to run South Africa’s next major radio frequency spectrum auction. However, the regulator has still not committed to a date for the auction. It was delayed in 2024 after bidders asked for more time to prepare. Icasa has…
The Sentech television broadcasting tower in Auckland Park, Johannesburg Communications regulator Icasa has published draft regulations that will, when introduced, significantly tighten oversight of Sentech’s terrestrial broadcasting signal distribution business, formally declaring the state-owned company to have significant market power across television, FM radio and AM radio transmission services. The proposed signal distribution services regulations,…
Solly Malatsi. Image: DCDT Communications minister Solly Malatsi has put his stamp on one of the most contentious issues in South Africa’s ICT sector: how black economic empowerment is applied to companies, like Elon Musk’s Starlink, that cannot, or will not, dilute ownership in their local operations. In a final policy directive published on Friday…
The MTN SA and ICASA delegation. MTN South Africa and the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) yesterday met to discuss measures to reduce the cost to communicate. The engagement, according to MTN SA, forms part of its ongoing multi-stakeholder strategy aimed at enhancing collaboration with key partners in government, business and civil society. The…
Communications regulator Icasa has been given a bloody nose in the high court in Pretoria after MTN South Africa took it on review, challenging provisions of the mobile broadband service regulations of 2021. MTN disputed parts of the regulations that defined MTN – and rival Vodacom – of having “significant market power” and being “dominant”…
ICASA wants to extend its almost decade-long focus on the state of competition in subscription TV broadcasting services. It’s another bumper week on National Treasury’s eTenders Portal, with almost 700 new opportunities advertised. The ICT sector, however, will have to be content with looking to a handful of public sector organisations for this week’s most…
ICASA requires information on the development of an automated spectrum management system. It’s a busy week on National Treasury’s eTenders Portal; however, the ICT industry is not favoured. This means the industry will largely need to look to lower-value municipal advertisements for opportunities. Amid this quiet backdrop, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)…
