EASSy launch date pushed back
The latest news from Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri is that the NEPAD ICT Broadband Network will now be operational in mid-2009.
“In a few days time we expect to bring the Protocol for NEPAD ICT Broadband Network for ratification by Parliament. This network, which is planned to be operational by mid 2009 represents the spirit of self determination…,” the minister said.
Delays with the East African Submarine cable system is however nothing new.
In March 2006 the project manager promised a launch date of the fourth quarter of 2006, but the operational date was set back to 2008 in October the same year.
The minister’s latest delay with the cable system’s operational date effectively means that the operational date has now been delayed by a year and a half since March 2006. The strange irony is that a process which should be going forward has moved backwards over the last year.
The NEPAD ICT Broadband Network, aka EASSy, brings the hope of much needed competition to the SAT3/SAFE system and with it the expectation that international bandwidth rates will come down.
Furthermore, it has been proposed to be a key component for ensuring that SA has sufficient bandwidth capacity for hosting the 2010 World Cup.
Landing stations may become essential facilities
A positive move by the minister is that the SAT3/SAFE landing stations may be declared essential facilities which will give other operators access to these stations.
Matsepe-Casaburri said that she directed ICASA “to prioritise and urgently prescribe a list of essential facilities as envisaged in section 43(8) (b) of the ECA, ensuring that the electronic communications facilities connected to the SAT-3 submarine cable can be accessed soon.”
This can be a valuable tool in the hands of Neotel, who – though VSNL – is a shareholder in the SAT3/SAFE system.
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