THE Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has granted local mobile cellular and telecommunications providers additional time to submit extra information on Draft Call Termination Regulations, an official has confirmed.
In an interview with our reporters on Monday, ICASA Senior Manager, Jubie Matlou, said the communications regulator held public hearings between June 28-30th on the draft call aimed at reducing the cost of mobile calls.
“These regulations seek to reduce the wholesale price licensees charge each other for reaching their customers from the current commercially agreed upon scenario to a regulated rate based on the cost of providing such a service.
“Stakeholders raised a multitude of concerns, chiefly around the proposed glide-path and how this may negatively affect their businesses,” said Matlou.
He said the concerns were raised mainly by Vodacom, MTN, CELL C and NASHUA cellular mobile companies.
He added: “Counter to this, however, was the desired result of enhanced competition that would ultimately benefit consumers through a reduction in retail prices.”
In a bid to balance its triple mandate of ensuring fair prices to consumers, promoting competition in the ICT sector whilst ensuring a favourable investment environment, ICASA granted the cellular mobile companies until Friday the 9th of July 2010 to make further written submissions to the Authority.
“The Authority will review all the written and oral submissions over the next few weeks and inform all stakeholders of progress in this regard.
“The Authority is therefore of the view that the granting of extra time to provide additional information pursuant to the public hearings held this week could have an effect on the issuing of the final regulations and the implementation date for rate reductions.
“The Authority will however keep the public informed of further developments in this regard,” said Matlou.
