Sentech queries nuts and bolts of convergence
September 9, 2004
By Gugulakhe Masango
Johannesburg - The full implementation of the long-awaited convergence policy could be hindered by the legal definition of the application of number portability, the industry regulator heard yesterday.
At a presentation to the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) inquiry into the implementation of number portability yesterday, Dingane Dube, Sentech's executive of regulatory affairs, said the statutory requirement contained in the Telecoms Act of 1996 was problematic.
The law defines number portability as the ability of a telecoms subscriber who requests it to retain his or her telephone number when changing service from one public switched telecoms service (PSTN) to another PSTN or one cellular licensee to another.
"We as Sentech need to be included in this definition because we carry traffic for mobile operators," said Dube.
Sentech is the state-owned commercial signal distributor and was born out of the SABC in 1992. It distributes signals for MultiChoice, e.tv, the SABC and commercial radio stations.
Convergence policy will regulate the information and communications technology sector. It will allow content created by one telecom operator to be distributed to different providers.
Sentech would apply for the delivery of voice traffic directly to consumers or end users if the convergence policy removed the restrictions.
In its submission to Icasa, the company said the obligations of number portability should apply between licensees providing international gateways and to PSTN to ensure the fostering of competition in the international carriage market.
Sentech suggested the legal definition of number portability should be amended to:
"A facility whereby end users who so request can retain their telephone numbers independently of the telecommunications service licensee providing telecommunication service at the network termination point of the end user."
Dube said Icasa should conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to determine an appropriate technical solution for number portability in the country.
He added that this study would enable the regulator to determine the most cost-effective solution for the implementation of number portability.
Sentech said there should be a code of conduct to prevent licensees from imposing contracts to lock end users in the use of proprietary handsets or other devices.
It further called for a transparent system to enable consumers to identify the tariffs applicable to the numbers dialled.
Dube added: "We do not think the number portability process should be finalised before the second network operator is established".
Cellular group MTN estimated that it would spend R110 million to implement number portability for its network and information systems.
September 9, 2004
By Gugulakhe Masango
Johannesburg - The full implementation of the long-awaited convergence policy could be hindered by the legal definition of the application of number portability, the industry regulator heard yesterday.
At a presentation to the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) inquiry into the implementation of number portability yesterday, Dingane Dube, Sentech's executive of regulatory affairs, said the statutory requirement contained in the Telecoms Act of 1996 was problematic.
The law defines number portability as the ability of a telecoms subscriber who requests it to retain his or her telephone number when changing service from one public switched telecoms service (PSTN) to another PSTN or one cellular licensee to another.
"We as Sentech need to be included in this definition because we carry traffic for mobile operators," said Dube.
Sentech is the state-owned commercial signal distributor and was born out of the SABC in 1992. It distributes signals for MultiChoice, e.tv, the SABC and commercial radio stations.
Convergence policy will regulate the information and communications technology sector. It will allow content created by one telecom operator to be distributed to different providers.
Sentech would apply for the delivery of voice traffic directly to consumers or end users if the convergence policy removed the restrictions.
In its submission to Icasa, the company said the obligations of number portability should apply between licensees providing international gateways and to PSTN to ensure the fostering of competition in the international carriage market.
Sentech suggested the legal definition of number portability should be amended to:
"A facility whereby end users who so request can retain their telephone numbers independently of the telecommunications service licensee providing telecommunication service at the network termination point of the end user."
Dube said Icasa should conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to determine an appropriate technical solution for number portability in the country.
He added that this study would enable the regulator to determine the most cost-effective solution for the implementation of number portability.
Sentech said there should be a code of conduct to prevent licensees from imposing contracts to lock end users in the use of proprietary handsets or other devices.
It further called for a transparent system to enable consumers to identify the tariffs applicable to the numbers dialled.
Dube added: "We do not think the number portability process should be finalised before the second network operator is established".
Cellular group MTN estimated that it would spend R110 million to implement number portability for its network and information systems.
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