That would seem to suggest that privately owned and funded Seacom's landing in South Africa – in a commercial partnership with Neotel – could be stalled in its underwater tracks. <\/p>\n
Or would it? A Seacom spokesman says that within SA's borders, Seacom was 100% owned by Neotel. "So I think the department will be very pleased with our shareholding within SA territories." <\/p>\n
Neotel is controlled by strategic equity partner Tata Group of India (through VSNL and Tata Africa), plus two other consortiums: CommuniTel and Two Consortium (with both having some local ownership). Public corporations Eskom and Transtel own 30% between them and black economic empowerment partner Nexus 19%. <\/p>\n
Communications director general Lyndall Shope-Mafole told ITWeb that this local ownership requirement was for security purposes and to stimulate SA's economic development. <\/p>\n
However, she said that Seacom would be accommodated in the Nepad cable project – the early-stage EASSy breakaway project that also envisages laying a cable off Africa's east coast – if it received more local ownership. <\/p>\n
But it doesn't seem that Seacom would have to take her up on that. Seacom told us at the time of signing the Neotel partnership that it was confident the terms of operation for the cable would meet current and future regulations, in line with SA's Electronic Communications Act.<\/p>\n