ICASA to host public hearings into mobile pricing, 18 and 19 May

10 May 2006

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will hold
public hearings into mobile pricing on 18 and 19 May 2006. These hearings are
part of a public consultation process held in terms of section 27 of the
Telecommunications Act, 103 of 1996. The first stage of the process was a call
for written submissions in response to a Discussion Document on Mobile Pricing,
published in Government Gazette 27854 on 28 July 2005.

The Authority received 18 written responses, and 16 requested an opportunity
to make oral presentations at the hearings.

ICASA invited comment on its Discussion Document on Mobile Prices which was
published in response to a complaint received from the Communications Users
Association of South Africa (CUASA) highlighting various concerns with regard
to the price of mobile services.

Some of the issues the Discussion Document requested responses on
include:
* the cause of the high cost of mobile calls in general
* whether there is sufficient competition in the mobile market
* the high cost of sending Short Message Services (SMSs) compared to a one
minute international call from a national landline
* different interconnection charges between mobile-to-mobile and
mobile-to-fixed
line
* the cost of South African roaming mobile charges
* the high costs of mobile prepaid rates.

The public hearings will be held as follows:
Dates: Thursday, 18 May 2006
Friday, 19 May 2006
Time: 08h30 to 16h30.
Venue: ICASA Block C, Presentation Room, Pinmill Farm, 164 Katherine Street,
Sandton, Gauteng

Schedule: Day 1
18 May 2006
08h30 –08h45: ICASA opening address
08h45 –09h30: Telkom
09h45 –10h15 :Vodacom
10h15 –10h30: tea break
10h30 - 11h15: MTN
11h15- 12h00: Cell C
12h00- 12h45: CUASA
12h45 – 14h00: lunch
14h00 – 14h45: Competition Commission
114h45 – 15h30: ICSPA
15h30 – 15h45: tea break
15h45 – 16h30: Auto Page

19 May 2006
08h30 –09h30: Internet Solutions
09h30 –10h15: Sentech
10h15 –10h30: tea break
10h30 - 11h15: Agee Telecoms
12h00- 12h45: SACCOM
12h45 – 14h00: lunch
14h00 – 14h45: FXI
114h45 – 15h30: Prof. Ashley Madraymuthoo
15h30 – 15h45: tea break
15h45 – 16h30: Chris Mathews

Panel:
Councillor T. Cohen
Councillor N. Bulbulia
Councillor N. Masiza
K. Boqwana
S. Mamaregane
A. Mukoma
F. Gelebe
M. Moeletsi
A. Hlabioa

Enquiries
Josias Mathiba
Communications & Liaison
Tel: (011) 321 8335
Cell: 083 377 1493
E-mail: jmathiba@icasa.org.za

Issued by: Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
10 May 2006
Source: Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (http://www.icasa.org.za)