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SUMMARY
This report is ideal for executives wanting to understand the key drivers in
the telecoms market and have access to a wealth of statistical data. The
report provides background data, an insight into the market and regulatory
climate, market indicators and information on major operators, manufacturers
and industry associations, including important contact details.
The South African government published a new Convergence Bill, 2005, in
February 2005, to provide a licensing and regulatory framework for a converged
telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology industry. However,
it was not until mid-April 2006 that the Electronic Communications Act (ECA)
was actually signed into law and a Presidential Proclamation must still be
published indicating the effective date for the Act. Furthermore, key
secondary legisalation, such as that governing mobile number portability, has
yet to be activated.
The Act defines new categories of licences; sets out rules and guidelines for
licence applications, licensee obligations, and the construction of
communications networks; provides for interconnection between licensees and
facilities leasing by communications network services licensees; provides for
a radio frequency plan, a numbering plan to enable number portability, and
carrier pre-selection; specifies type approval and technical standards for
communications equipment; and, provides for the Universal Service Agency and
Universal Service Fund to continue to bring services to historically
disadvantaged people and remote locations.
The Act has effectively repealed the Telecommunications Act of November 1996,
which provided for: the partial privatisation of incumbent operator Telkom SA
Limited; the creation of a new regulatory authority; and, the introduction of
a second network operator (SNO) to compete with Telkom, although Telkom's
monopoly on certain services (local, long-distance, and international voice
services; all facilities used for VANS; and, payphones) was guaranteed for a
minimum five-year period (to March 2002) to enable the operator to modernise
and expand its network without sacrificing financial resources to compete with
other companies. However, without the necessary Presidential approval in place
for the new Act, the older legislation is still believed to hold sway over the
sector.
In the meantime, the South African authorities have proceeded with the
liberalisation of the fixed-line market, with the licensing of the second
national operator (SNO) in the fourth quarter of 2005. SNO Telecommunications
(Pty) Ltd is owned by several key groups, representing state-owned entities
(Transtel and Eskom own 30% between them), Black Empowerment Enterprise Nexus
Connection (holding 19%), and a group of domestic and foreign investors
(owning 51%, with the most important member of this group being Videsh Sanchar
Nigam Ltd of India). Besides being authorised to offer basic local,
long-distance, and international services, SNO Telecommunications may also
offer advanced data and value-added network services, as well as
third-generation (3G) mobile telecommunications services. SNO
Telecommunications has said it will launch later in 2006, but some observers
are already expecting that this will be deferred until early-2007.
Ahead of the arrival of SNO, South Africa's three cellular operators have
secured enhanced GSM licences (formally permitting them to offer dual-band GSM
900/1800 services, even though Vodacom and MTN had already been offering GSM
1800 services for some time under interim licences). Both Vodacom and MTN have
launched 3G services via GSM/GPRS/EDGE-enhanced platforms and have most
recently initiated HSDPA systems that enable them to roll-out high-speed
broadband wireless services. Relative newcomer Cell C has recently launched an
EDGE-based service and - like its peers - aims to offer fixed-line services in
the future, most likely via fixed wireless access platforms.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COUNTRY BACKGROUND
- General Information
- Economic and Social Data
- Telecommunications Data
TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION
SUMMARY
REGULATION
South Africa - Regulatory Bodies and Their Activities
LEGISLATION
- Telecommunications Act 1996
- Electronic Communications Act 2005
- New Licence Categories
- Black Economic Empowerment Legislation
COMPETITION
- Fixed Market
- Second National Operator (SNO)
- Mobile Market
PRIVATISATION
COMMUNICATIONS MARKET INDICATORS
- Comparison of Telkom SA Operating Results with CMA Averages, 2004
FIXED-LINE MARKET
MOBILE MARKET
MAJOR OPERATORS
MAJOR MANUFACTURERS
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
INDEX OF TABLES
- General Information
- Economic and Social Data
- Telecommunications Data
- South Africa - Regulatory Bodies and Their Activities
- New Licence Categories
- Comparison of Telkom SA Operating Results with CMA Averages, 2004
- Major Operators
- Major Manufacturers
- Industry Associations
INDEX OF CHARTS
- South Africa: Fixed Lines in Service and Fixed Line Penetration, 2001-05
- South Africa: Mobile Subscribers and Mobile Penetration, 2001-2005
- South Africa: Mobile Market Shares by Operator, December 2004
- South Africa: Mobile Market Shares by Operator, December 2005
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