The Communications Users Association of South Africa (CUASA) welcomed yesterday’s decision by Acting High Court Judge Davis against Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri’s application for leave to appeal the 29 August judgment handed down in favour of Altech Autopage’s High Court Application. <\/p>\n
“This hopefully finally clears up the meaning of the unclear Ministerial Determinations of 2004, to confirm that VANS can indeed, self provide,” said CUASA in a press statement.<\/p>\n
“While not everyone will be pleased by the ruling, overall the decision is likely to increase liberalisation and competition in the local telecoms market – and that’s ultimately going to be a good thing for South African business and consumers.”<\/p>\n
Communications Minister Matsepe-Casaburri made a ministerial determination in 2004 which indicated that VANS would be able to build their own networks. ICASA initially interpreted the Determinations as confirmation that VANS would be able to self-provide, but the minister later said that she had never intended this to be the case.<\/p>\n
“CUASA now hopes that ICASA will commence the process of issuing ECNS licenses, as they announced they would do between 25 September and 1 October, but on which they reneged,” CUASA concluded.<\/p>\n