ICASA confiscates cellular phones
ICASA is doing the rounds confiscating cellular phones which do not bear ICASA Approved stickers. All telecommunications equipment, including data and text processing equipment, fax transceivers, cordless telephones and digital and analogue feature telephones must be type approved by ICASA.
A small shop in the Vereeniging Central Business District reported that they lost 15 phones and accessories as these devices did not bear the ICASA seal of approval. “Apparently they are going from shop to shop now and have amassed quite a collection,” said one observer.
According to other commentator ‘half the floor of the ICASA Enforcement office is covered in evidence bags filled with cellular phones.’
ICASA confirmed the recent raids, saying that it regularly confiscates cellphones and any electronic communications equipment that is not type-approved by the Authority.
“In terms of the Electronic Communications Act, no person may use, supply, sell offer for sale or lease or hire any electronic communications equipment or electronic communications facility, including radio apparatus, used or to be used in connection with the provision of electronic communications unless such equipment, electronic communications facility or radio apparatus has been approved by the Authority,” said ICASA.
“During the period of 11-15 February 2008, our JHB Region confiscated over 300 mobile cellular phones in the Boksburg and Johannesburg areas,” the regulator confirmed.
ICASA remains secretive about which regions it will focus its efforts on next, but said it will continually monitor compliance.
“The Authority won’t say where the next confiscation will take place as this would defeat its operations. The Authority will be monitoring compliance with all the applicable legislation in terms of proper usage of radio frequency spectrum, type-approval of electronic communications equipment, compliance with licence rights and obligations,” said ICASA.
The regulator is set to destroy the cellular phones if they are not type approved.
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