The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) met with representatives of Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom, Neotel and the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) to discuss the interconnect rate. The meeting was necessitated by the ongoing public discussions around the cost of call termination in the country.
After deliberations, the meeting resolved to:
* embark on the industry led process to reduce termination rates, with ICASA exercising oversight responsibility
* ensure the process of negotiating a new termination rate regime takes into account the requirements of the competition law
* conclude negotiations between operators by end of December 2009, with ICASA proposing an implementation date of 1 February 2010.
Meanwhile, ICASA will continue with its process in terms of chapter 10 of the Electronic Communications Act. This process will entail the publication of the necessary regulatory framework pursuant to regulations defining the relevant market, evaluating the effectiveness of competition, a declaration of licensees with significant market power and the implementation of pro-competitive remedies
For more information contact:
Sekgoela Sekgoela
Cell: 079 492 3450
Tel: 011 566 3455
E-mail: ssekgoela@icasa.org.za
Issued by: Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
8 September 2009
Source: Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (http://www.icasa.org.za/)
