{"id":35608,"date":"2011-10-10T17:12:29","date_gmt":"2011-10-10T15:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=35608"},"modified":"2011-10-11T10:55:32","modified_gmt":"2011-10-11T08:55:32","slug":"local-loop-unbundling-what-should-be-achieved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/telecoms\/35608-local-loop-unbundling-what-should-be-achieved.html","title":{"rendered":"Local Loop Unbundling: What should be achieved?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Local Loop Unbundling (LLU)<\/a> hearings kick off tomorrow (11 October 2011), with all of South Africa’s prominent telecoms players set to make oral presentations.<\/p>\n

Here is what some of the most prominent players would like to see from the LLU process.<\/p>\n

Solidarity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trade Union Solidarity<\/a> said that while they are not against development in the telecommunications industry, they are unsure whether the unbundling process as it is proposed will render enough benefits to end users to justify the potential job losses it could cause, especially amongst Telkom employees.<\/p>\n

Vodacom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vodacom<\/a> said that they are looking forward to seeing the copper local loop unbundled as per international best practice.<\/p>\n

“For LLU to be practically implemented, ICASA<\/a> would ideally need to publish supplementary regulations to the Facilities Leasing Regulations, which address the process to be followed, service levels to be met by the access provider (Telkom), access to collocation space, electrical power etc,” said Vodacom.<\/p>\n

“Additionally, we believe that ICASA should perform an audit of the copper local loop to determine its quality, availability in each exchange, location of exchanges etc.”<\/p>\n

MWEB<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Rudi<\/a>

Rudi Jansen<\/p><\/div>\n

MWEB<\/a> CEO Rudi Jansen<\/a> said that it is exceptionally important for both the industry and the consumer that LLU is done correctly. This, said Jansen, could take some time.<\/p>\n

“Pricing studies, for example, will form the cornerstone of the LLU process and the models that flow from this have to be correct. That does not happen overnight. So we do not expect that the process will result in a quick or easy fix for the challenges we sit with currently,” said Jansen.<\/p>\n

Jansen suggested interim steps that will provide some relief in the short-term, while the full process unfolds. These steps include better wholesale solutions from the mobile operators, naked ADSL and far lower IPC costs.<\/p>\n

Internet Solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Internet Solutions<\/a> Executive for Carrier Services, Raj Wanniappa<\/a>, said that they supports ICASA’s LLU process in as far as its intention of increasing competition.<\/p>\n

Manniappa said that increased competition should decrease costs, improve access of broadband services to the underserved and generate business opportunities for alternative telco service providers both large organisations and SMMEs especially in rural areas.<\/p>\n

“The process can also be used to highlight unfair business practices by the local incumbent carrier and open various mechanisms by which innovative service providers can leverage what has largely been a state-funded infrastructure asset in a more equitable manner,” said Wanniappa.<\/p>\n

“Even if the LLU process does not result in full local loop unbundling, all the derivations thereof, like bit stream access, line sharing or sub-loop unbundling will still benefit corporates clients and consumers alike.”<\/p>\n