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country-profiles:south-africa [2019/11/11 06:45] – [National Policy] carloscountry-profiles:south-africa [2023/06/18 11:59] (current) – CSV data imported steve
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 The communications sector is regulated by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ([[https://www.icasa.org.za/ | ICASA]]).  ICASA was established in 2000 by the [[https://www.gov.za/documents/independent-communications-authority-south-africa-act | Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act]] which underwent amendments in [[https://www.gov.za/documents/independent-communications-authority-south-africa-amendment-act | 2006]] and [[https://www.gov.za/documents/independent-communications-authority-south-africa-amendment-act-0 | 2014]]. The ECA Objects we refer to include: The communications sector is regulated by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ([[https://www.icasa.org.za/ | ICASA]]).  ICASA was established in 2000 by the [[https://www.gov.za/documents/independent-communications-authority-south-africa-act | Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act]] which underwent amendments in [[https://www.gov.za/documents/independent-communications-authority-south-africa-amendment-act | 2006]] and [[https://www.gov.za/documents/independent-communications-authority-south-africa-amendment-act-0 | 2014]]. The ECA Objects we refer to include:
   * (c) promote the universal provision of electronic communications networks and electronic communications services and connectivity for all;   * (c) promote the universal provision of electronic communications networks and electronic communications services and connectivity for all;
-  * (h) promote the empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons, including Black people, with particular attention to the needs of women, opportunities for youth and challenges for people with +  * (h) promote the empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons, including Black people, with particular attention to the needs of women, opportunities for youth and challenges for people with disabilities; and
-disabilities; and+
   * (p) develop and promote SMMEs and cooperatives   * (p) develop and promote SMMEs and cooperatives
  
 Telecommunications policy is set by what is now (June 2019) known as the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), a merger of the [[https://www.doc.gov.za/content/about-us|Department of Communications]] (DOC) and the [[https://www.dtps.gov.za/|Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services]] (DTPS). DCDT's mission is to: Telecommunications policy is set by what is now (June 2019) known as the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), a merger of the [[https://www.doc.gov.za/content/about-us|Department of Communications]] (DOC) and the [[https://www.dtps.gov.za/|Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services]] (DTPS). DCDT's mission is to:
  
-<callout type="default">//create an enabling environment for the provision of inclusive communication services to all South Africans in a manner that promotes socio-economic development and investment through broadcasting, new media, print media and other new technologies, and to brand the country locally and internationally.//</callout>+**Create an enabling environment for the provision of inclusive communication services to all South Africans in a manner that promotes socio-economic development and investment through broadcasting, new media, print media and other new technologies, and to brand the country locally and internationally.**
  
 The plight of the digital divide in rural South Africa is acknowledged in The National Development Plan, South Africa Connect, and the National ICT Advisory Review Panel Report (2015) (“ICT Panel Report”). The National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper (pg. 66) states that:  The plight of the digital divide in rural South Africa is acknowledged in The National Development Plan, South Africa Connect, and the National ICT Advisory Review Panel Report (2015) (“ICT Panel Report”). The National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper (pg. 66) states that: 
  
-<callout type="default">// The National Development Plan (2012) (“NDP”), South Africa Connect: the National Broadband Policy and Strategy (2013) (“SA Connect”) and the recommendations captured in the National ICT Advisory Review Panel Report (2015) (“ICT Panel Report”) have identified that, despite the policy and regulatory framework, network roll-out is skewed towards urban areas - and the prospects of providers rolling out modern broadband services in rural and less affluent areas without government intervention are minimal.//</callout>+** 
 +The National Development Plan (2012) (“NDP”), South Africa Connect: the National Broadband Policy and Strategy (2013) (“SA Connect”) and the recommendations captured in the National ICT Advisory Review Panel Report (2015) (“ICT Panel Report”) have identified that, despite the policy and regulatory framework, network roll-out is skewed towards urban areas - and the prospects of providers rolling out modern broadband services in rural and less affluent areas without government intervention are minimal.** 
 + 
 +It is worth noting that the South African government has embraced an "open data" policy for government in its [[https://www.dtps.gov.za/images/phocagallery/Popular_Topic_Pictures/National_Integrated_ICT_Policy_White.pdf|National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper 2016]] stating that: 
 +<callout type="default">The South African Constitution commits Government to open and transparent governance of the country. ICTs and digitisation provide a means to reinforce this commitment by making it more possible to ensure that key  non-personal  public  information  and  data  is  freely  available  to everyone to use, reuse and republish as they wish, subject  only  to  restrictions  to  protect  privacy, confidentiality and security in line with the Constitution.</callout>  
 ===== Licensing Framework ===== ===== Licensing Framework =====
  
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 Table: Licensing under the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005 Table: Licensing under the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005
  
-^ Electronic communication services                  ^ Individual                                                                                                                                      ^  Class                                                                                                      ^                                                                                                                       License Exempt ^ +^ Electronic communication services                  ^  Individual                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ^  Class                                                                                                                                                                                                         ^  License Exempt                                                                                                                      ^ 
-| Electronic communications network services (ECNS)  | An iECNS license allows the holder to deploy and operate a physical network at a provincial or national level                                    | Class ECNS license allows the holder to deploy and operate a physical network a district or local municipality  | Option 1 - Non for profit  - maybe because the actual line needs to be longer\\ Option 2 - Reseller\\ Option 3 - Ancillary Services  | +| Electronic communications network services (ECNS)  | An iECNS license allows the holder to deploy and operate a physical network at a provincial or national level                                                                                                                      | Class ECNS license allows the holder to deploy and operate a physical network a district or local municipality                                                                                                 | Option 1 - Non for profit  - maybe because the actual line needs to be longer\\ Option 2 - Reseller\\ Option 3 - Ancillary Services  | 
-| Electronic communications services (ECS)           | This licence allows the holder to provide services to customers over the network of an ECNS licensee, including voice or VoIP services which use numbers taken from the National Numbering Plan, nationwide or across a province. | This licence allows the holder to provide the same services as the Individual ECS licence, except for voice services requiring numbers from the National Numbering Plan, in a district or local municipality.                            |                                                                                                                                      |+| Electronic communications services (ECS)           | This licence allows the holder to provide services to customers over the network of an ECNS licensee, including voice or VoIP services which use numbers taken from the National Numbering Plan, nationwide or across a province.  | This licence allows the holder to provide the same services as the Individual ECS licence, except for voice services requiring numbers from the National Numbering Plan, in a district or local municipality.  |                                                                                                                                      |
  
 https://www.icasa.org.za/pages/services-licencing https://www.icasa.org.za/pages/services-licencing
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 What kinds of operator licenses are there?  Unified?  Technology agnostic? What kinds of operator licenses are there?  Unified?  Technology agnostic?
 Are there licenses for small operators? Are there licenses for small operators?
-Do ISPs have specfic licenses?+Do ISPs have specific licenses?
 What kinds of organisations qualify for license exemption? What kinds of organisations qualify for license exemption?
 +
 +==== Mobile Virtual Network Operators ====
 +A Mobile Virtual Network Operator or MVNO is a mobile operator that doesn't have its own wireless network infrastructure, it relies on another carrier's radio network infrastructure.  There are various types of MVNOs ranging from a full MVNO which operate everything except the radio network.  This includes operating the core network, applications & services, billing, customer care as well as sales & marketing.  At the other end of the spectrum are branded resellers which only does sales and marketing.  There are variations in between.
 +
 +Historically, MVNOs operated on CellC's network, the only operator to offer wholesale MVNO services.  However, in late 2020 [[https://techcentral.co.za/mtn-joins-cell-c-in-the-mvno-platform-business/102488/|MTN announced]] it would offer MVNOs on its network. Vodacom made a [[https://techcentral.co.za/vodacom-is-building-a-platform-for-mvnos/103009/|similar announcement]] around the same time.
 +
 +{{tablelayout?rowsHeaderSource=Auto&colwidth=""}}
 +^ Partner  ^ Type  ^ Name                                                                                                                                   ^
 +| CellC    |       | [[https://theunlimited.co.za|TheUnlimited]]                                                                                            |
 +| CellC    |       | [[http://www.virginmobile.co.za/|Virgin Mobile]]                                                                                       |
 +| CellC    |       | [[https://ismart.co.za/|iSmart (Smart Mobile)]]                                                                                        |
 +| CellC    |       | [[https://www.meandyoumobile.co.za/|me&you]]                                                                                           |
 +| CellC    |       | [[https://www.afrihost.com/site/product/mobile_data|Afrihost Mobile]]                                                                  |
 +| CellC    |       | [[https://www.standardbank.co.za/southafrica/personal/products-and-services/bank-with-us/standard-bank-mobile| Standard Bank Mobile]]  |
 +| MTN      |       | Pick nPay                                                                                                                              |
 +| MTN      |       | Shoprite                                                                                                                               |
 +
 +The Competition Commission's [[https://www.compcom.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSMI-Non-Confidential-Report-002.pdf|Data Services Market Inquiry Report]] published in 2019 has a detailed analysis of the state of MVNOs in South Africa. While the market is not deemed to be competitive due to a lack of price regulation or sufficient incentives for incumbent operators to share their networks, the report stops short of recommending regulation due to the likelihood of the impending Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN) to be able to support multiple MVNOs.
  
  
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 ===== Wireless Spectrum ==== ===== Wireless Spectrum ====
 Point to the spectrum allocation framework. Point to the spectrum allocation framework.
 +The use of radio spectrum is also regulated in South Africa by ICASA {{ :country-profiles:radio-frequency-spectrum-fees-regulations-2015.pdf | and its Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations}}. Most bands require a license, but there are cases for exemptions. Depending on the band, both cases are of interest for community networks as explained below.
 +
 +
  
 ==== License-Exempt ==== ==== License-Exempt ====
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 /* Please don't edit the following text. It automatically creates a table for the ISM bands. */ /* Please don't edit the following text. It automatically creates a table for the ISM bands. */
 /* You can edit the values while not in editing mode by double-clicking on the fields  */ /* You can edit the values while not in editing mode by double-clicking on the fields  */
----- struct table ---- + 
-schema: ismbands +
-filter: country = South Africa +
-cols: frequency, exempt, EIRP, Tx-Power, Notes +
-csv: 0 +
-----+
  
 All license-exempt wireless equipment requires homologation or type approval in order to be used legally in South Africa.  ICASA maintains a [[https://www.icasa.org.za/uploads/files/rf-type-approved-equipment-2019-1st-quarter.pdf|list of type-approved license-exempt radio equipment]]. The current linked document is up-to-date as of Q1 2019. All license-exempt wireless equipment requires homologation or type approval in order to be used legally in South Africa.  ICASA maintains a [[https://www.icasa.org.za/uploads/files/rf-type-approved-equipment-2019-1st-quarter.pdf|list of type-approved license-exempt radio equipment]]. The current linked document is up-to-date as of Q1 2019.
  
 Rules for point to point links versus access networks? Rules for point to point links versus access networks?
 +
 +==== Licensed Spectrum ====
 +
 +In South Africa the use of Licensed Spectrum is subject to a fee. Depending on the type of use the fees vary. There are two types:
 +- Point-to Area (what is traditionally known as point-to-multipoint
 +- Point-to-Point
 +
 +All the details about the fees can be found in Radio Spectrum Fees Regulations {{ :country-profiles:radio-frequency-spectrum-fees-regulations-2015.pdf | [1]}}
  
 ==== Point-to-Point ==== ==== Point-to-Point ====
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 ==== IMT Spectrum ==== ==== IMT Spectrum ====
 +
 +/* Please don't edit the following text. It automatically creates a table for the IMT assignments. */
 +/* You can edit the values while not in editing mode by double-clicking on the fields  */
 +
 +
   * URL for spectrum assignments for mobile operators   * URL for spectrum assignments for mobile operators
   * List major operators and their spectrum assignments   * List major operators and their spectrum assignments
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 ===== Resources / References ===== ===== Resources / References =====
-  * Other relevant web resources, reports, analysis. 
  
-== Example == +| [TWITTER:USER:ICASA_org:4]  | [TWITTER:USER:DtpsZA:4]  |
-  * link to illustrative country example+
  
 ---- struct data ---- ---- struct data ----
 +countryprofile.regName : Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
 +countryprofile.regAcronym : ICASA
 +countryprofile.regUrl : https://www.icasa.org.za/
 +countryprofile.regTwitter : https://twitter.com/ICASA_org
 +countryprofile.regEmail : info@icasa.org.za
 +countryprofile.minName : Department of Telecommunications & Postal Service
 +countryprofile.minAcronym : DTPS
 +countryprofile.minUrl : https://www.dtps.gov.za
 +countryprofile.minTwitter : https://twitter.com/DtpsZA
 +countryprofile.minEmail : ministry@dtps.gov.za
 ---- ----