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[Johannesburg, 24 April 2008] - Value-added network service providers (VANS) wanting to self-provide national backhaul networks through an individual electronic communications network service (I-ECNS) licence face the same financial and social obligations as major telecoms operators.
This is according to Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) chairman Paris Mashile.
He spoke in response to a presentation by Uninet CFO Mulwell Rebelo, at the sixth annual Digital Africa Summit, in Sandton, this week.
The issue arose during a discussion on the High Court proceedings instituted by the Wireless Access Providers' Association (WAPA) asking for clarity on the right of VANS to self-provide networks.
WAPA believes VANS have held this right since 2006, but there has been conflicting messages on the issue, said Rebelo.
In response, Mashile said licences that ICASA issues to operators under the same group have to be similar in every respect.
This means that, in theory, VANs issued with I-ECNS licences have similar financial and social obligations as major players like Telkom, Neotel and the mobile network providers. “If there are differences, they must be justifiable,” he said.
Mashile also argued that the Electronic Communications (EC) Act already provided that VANS can self-provide networks through the class ECNS licence system.
A class ECNS licence allows telecoms providers to roll-out regional telecoms networks, but they cannot establish national backhaul infrastructure. “The terms and conditions are clear,” Mashile said.
No limit
ICASA previously argued that it is not trying to exclude VANS from gaining access to I-ECNS licences.
The regulator said it would convert current licences, and then ask VANS to present their business and technical plans to be considered for I-ECNS licences.
ICASA did not set a limit on the number of I-ECNS licences it would issue, said the official. The number of VANS gaining a licence will depend entirely on the number of VANS that qualify, he noted.
The Internet Service Providers Association of SA says it is watching the WAPA proceedings with interest. However, it neither approved nor disapproved of the legal action.
ICASA is also facing legal action from Altech Autopage Cellular on the issue of whether VANS have the right to self-provide networks.
The company launched an urgent application with the Transvaal High Court to interdict the ICASA process to convert licences to be in line with the EC Act.
The application also cites communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, Mashile and the 24 VANS that either participated, or indicated their willingness to participate, in the ICASA licence conversion hearings, as respondents.
ICASA says it is aware of media reports on the case, but would not comment further.
Johannesburg - Megawatt Park was without MegaWatts on Monday when Eskom load-shedded itself.
The power company could not even access its own website to check which areas were without electricity - the server was down, said an official who asked not want to be named.
The Eskom head office in Sunninghill, northern Johannesburg, was without power from 10:00 until at least 12:30.
However, it had already switched off the pumps to its water features on Friday, when it became apparent that the power supply was tight.
Staff had to resort to actually climbing the escalators when they were switched off along with the geysers and the air-conditioning systems last week.
Each Eskom facility throughout the country had a designated official tasked with ensuring - when it became apparent that load shedding might be in the offing - that it was energy efficient.
"Naturally, all Eskom facilities have to be energy efficient," the unnamed spokesperson said.
There were rolling blackouts across the country on Monday when Eskom tried to shed between 1000 and 1500MW.
Apart from maintenance problems, a shortage of diesel was affecting the back-up gas turbines used to generate power in the Western Cape, said Eskom's general manager of demand-side management Andrew Etzinger.
A fixed load-shedding schedule was available on www.eskom.co.za and customers could direct other queries to Eskom's call-centre on 08600 37566.
The call centre was centrally located and was not affected by the power outage at Megawatt Park, Eskom said.
