Ostensibly, Icasa warned that renewal applications must be lodged no earlier than 12 months and no later than 6 months prior to the licence’s expiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLicensees must refer to the effective date stated on their licence to determine the renewal period,\u201d Icasa stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor example, a licence issued on 15 January 2009 expires on 14 January 2029, and the renewal application must be submitted between 15 January 2028 and 14 July 2028.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Icasa\u2019s reminder is for Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) and Individual Electronic Communications Service (I-ECS) licence holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I-ECNS licences allow holders to build and operate physical communications network infrastructure anywhere in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To offer communication services over that physical infrastructure, an electronic communications services (ECS) licence is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the major companies the notice lists as having to renew soon are Axxess, Cell C, Cybersmart, E-tv, M-Net, EOH, Gijima, Hero Telecoms (Herotel), Liquid, Metrofibre, MTN, and Mweb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other network operators and ISPs on the list include Rain, Seacom, SA Digital Villages (owned by Vumatel), Smart Village (MTN\u2019s Supersonic), Vodacom, Vox, Webafrica, and WIOCC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harmony Gold, Neology (now Rain), Neotel (now Liquid), NTT Data, Orbicom (owned by MultiChoice), Reunert, and Saab Grintek are also listed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interesting mentions on the list include Sahara Systems and The New Age, which belonged to the Gupta family, and Super 5 Media, Telkom\u2019s aborted attempt to launch a pay-TV service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government entities on the list include Broadband Infraco, Sentech, the State Information Technology Agency, the SABC, and the SA Post Office. Telkom, which is majority state-owned, is also on the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No extensions, and 30% ownership requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Mothibi-Ramusi-Icasa-e1726667479664.jpg\")
Mothibi Ramusi, Icasa chairperson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIcasa\u2019s notice is a critical reminder to licence holders, as the regulator has made it clear that there will be no leeway when it comes to renewals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It ordered MultiChoice\u2019s only satellite pay-TV competitor in South Africa, StarSat, to cease operations on 18 September 2024<\/a> after it submitted its renewal late.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStarSat\u2019s licence expired on 8 July 2023, and it submitted its application in November that same year, explaining that efforts to secure investors were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When StarSat refused to shut down its South African broadcast, Icasa and officers from the South African Police Service raided its headquarters to remove its equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not explicitly stated in the notice is that Icasa will likely be enforcing the ownership requirements stipulated in the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) on licensees who renew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MyBroadband contacted Icasa for clarity on this, but it did not respond by publication. However, if a licensee is non-compliant with the terms and conditions of their licence, that is grounds for non-renewal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many individuals and small ISPs will not be compliant with the ECA\u2019s stipulation that licensees must be 30% owned by historically disadvantaged groups (HDGs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this context, HDGs include South African citizens who are women, youth, a person with a disability, or Black, which includes Indians and Coloureds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply put, ISPs that are majority-owned by white men could lose their licences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Altech Case<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Solly-Malatsi-speaking-at-meeting.jpg\")
Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Icasa\u2019s notice is a critical reminder to licence holders, as the regulator has made it clear that there will be no leeway when it comes to renewals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It ordered MultiChoice\u2019s only satellite pay-TV competitor in South Africa, StarSat, to cease operations on 18 September 2024<\/a> after it submitted its renewal late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n StarSat\u2019s licence expired on 8 July 2023, and it submitted its application in November that same year, explaining that efforts to secure investors were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When StarSat refused to shut down its South African broadcast, Icasa and officers from the South African Police Service raided its headquarters to remove its equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not explicitly stated in the notice is that Icasa will likely be enforcing the ownership requirements stipulated in the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) on licensees who renew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MyBroadband contacted Icasa for clarity on this, but it did not respond by publication. However, if a licensee is non-compliant with the terms and conditions of their licence, that is grounds for non-renewal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many individuals and small ISPs will not be compliant with the ECA\u2019s stipulation that licensees must be 30% owned by historically disadvantaged groups (HDGs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this context, HDGs include South African citizens who are women, youth, a person with a disability, or Black, which includes Indians and Coloureds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simply put, ISPs that are majority-owned by white men could lose their licences.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Altech Case<\/h2>\n\n\n\n