Hard-won network operator rights under threat in South Africa

[rpm]

Hard-won network operator rights under threat

Proposed changes to the Electronic Communications Act cast doubts over self-provisioning rights won by Altech in a High Court battle

[burn]

On no, sounds like a move Ivy would have made... Further regulation of the industry is not the answer.

[j4ck455]

The section 20 amendment seeks to limit the application of Chapter 4 to specific ECNS licensees as prescribed by the Authority since it is currently impractical; it also seeks to make better provision for the regulation of ECNS licensees that exercise any rights and obligations under this Chapter.

I don't think the minister has the right to change legislation because she thinks it is "impractical" whatever her definition of "impractical" might be, I suspect it means "too much like actual work interfering with ICASA's perpetual tea breaks".

Cull added that it is legally problematic to take away rights that licensees currently enjoy through an amendment .

For a start, is the minister not in contempt of court due to her gazetted intentions of reversing the existing rights of VANS under the ECA as confirmed by the court ruling in Altech's favour? Interdict?

[antowan]

A case of if it is legal then we'll make it ILLEGAL!

[Garyvdh]

Protecting the Telkom Cash Cow is the first priority Guys! Competition and Industry growth be damned!

[vzta22]

Use it or lose it tactic!

[ghoti]

On no, sounds like a move Ivy would have made... Further regulation of the industry is not the answer.

Kinda is. Telkom needs to be correctly regulated to allow competition to grow.

This however is stupid and is bad regulation. Bad regulation is bad. Good regulation is good. No regulation is stupid.

[evilstebunny]

And another cadre takes our Telecoms down a notch.

[Pienats]

If MyBB is going to submit a written response, please add the following:

The DoC and ICASA should regulate Telkom and enforce LLU to happen instead of trying to limit companies actually trying to advance broadband in the country.

[entrepr]

There are way more important issues to be resolved than seeking to remove these rights.

The industry needs to be further empowered, not restricted and ICASA needs to administer the existing legislation properly.

[eddief1]

What about all the WISP's....does this mean they will have to halt their business?

[zamicro]

What about all the WISP's....does this mean they will have to halt their business?

I am thinking about IS and their microwave links...

[icyrus]

Not surprising in the least. The government fought hard to stop the Altech case at the time and their backers have been reminding them since then that this situation is not acceptable to them. Eventually they'll want to get what they pay for.

[j4ck455]

Kinda is. Telkom needs to be correctly regulated to allow competition to grow.

This however is stupid and is bad regulation. Bad regulation is bad. Good regulation is good. No regulation is stupid.

Even good regulations turn bad in the idle hands of ICASA and the DoC.

[holler]

If MyBB is going to submit a written response, please add the following:

The DoC and ICASA should regulate Telkom and enforce LLU to happen instead of trying to limit companies actually trying to advance broadband in the country.

I think this is government's way of saving Telkom - get rid of the competition lol...ANC economics 101