Local Loop Unbundling moving ahead
In 2006, the Minister of Communications announced the appointment of the Local Loop Unbundling Committee, chaired by Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala. The mandate of the committee was to investigate and recommend appropriate models and processes for unbundling of the local loop to give players other than Telkom access to the last mile copper pair access network.
The committee made policy and regulatory recommendations to consider the best model for a successful local loop unbundling process. The Minister also made a policy decision that the unbundling process should be implemented and completed by 2011. The report was handed over to ICASA in January 2008.
ICASA said that they acknowledge the important role that LLU may have in the fulfillment of the Electronic Communications Act in promoting broadband competition within the ICT sector, and intend to engage all stakeholders on such matters in the succeeding months.
ICASA has developed a framework under which such consultations will occur. According to the regulator they envisage an overarching co-coordinating committee and several sub-committees chaired by ICASA.
These sub-committees are intended to consider the following matters:
- Policy, Legal and Regulatory
- Technical and Engineering processes
- Financial and Costing models
- Economic and Competition
These committees will report back to the Steering Committee which will formulate a project plan and track implementation thereof.
ICASA said that the various stakeholders will shortly be notified of the inaugural meeting dates for these sub-committees and be invited to send representatives.
ICASA said it is confident that the successful implementation of the LLU will be delivered within suitable timeframes.
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