The ICASA Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) hearings are in their second day (12 October 2011), with Cell C, ISPA, Internet Solutions, MWEB, Neotel and Telkom presenting.
In their LLU presentation, the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) told ICASA that the wired local loop, which is controlled by Telkom, represents a significant bottleneck in the delivery of quality, affordable broadband services to South African consumers
ISPA supported LLU, and asked for a phased approach to the implementation LLU which includes the launch of a bitstream access service within the next two months.
“The initial phase should see the introduction of naked ADSL and bitstream access for fixed broadband. There is no reason that ISPA is aware of as to why this could not be achieved by November 2011,” said ISPA.
ISPA argued that Telkom is able to release wholesale bitstream access services – IP Stream and Data Stream – by November 2011 as the services have already been trialled and are ready for implementation, but are being withheld due to concerns regarding the LLU process.
“These services would replace the largely broken current IPC model and their introduction should not be disruptive to Telkom,” said ISPA.
Naked ADSL
ISPA argued that Naked ADSL should have been included in the LLU discussion document.
“The current Telkom practise of bundling the voice and ADSL line is regarded by ISPA as prima facie anti-competitive and contrary to the anti-bundling provisions set out in section 13 of the Consumer Protection Act 2010,” ISPA said in their LLU submission.
ISPA further submitted that the basis for naked ADSL is already contained with regulation 9 of the Facilities Leasing Regulations.
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