The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has announced that it will hold public hearings in relation to the applications for Individual Electronic Communications Network Services (I-ECNS) and Individual Electronic Communications Services (I-ECS) licences by Broadband Infraco (Pty) Ltd.<\/p>\n
During March 2009, ICASA published an “Invitation To Apply” following the issuing of a policy directive by the Communications Minister on 6 February 2009. The directive was for ICASA to conduct the necessary processes to accept and consider applications for the I-ECNS and I-ECS by Broadband Infraco to amongst others, enable the state to expand availability and affordability of access to electronic communications networks and services.<\/p>\n
ICASA received the application from Broadband Infraco and will now hold public hearings. The hearings will afford interested parties the opportunity to make oral representations about Broadband Infraco’s licensing.<\/p>\n
The hearings will take place on 29 June at the ICASA Offices in Sandton, and will include presentations by CSIR (Meraka Institute), Internet Solutions (IS), Vodacom, ISPA and Broadband Infraco.<\/p>\n
Broadband Infraco is a state owned enterprise with the Department of Public Enterprises (74%) and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (26%) as shareholders. <\/p>\n
Broadband Infraco was formed as Government’s solution to the South African broadband conundrum of high costs and low availability. The plan is that the state owned entity will provide affordable long-haul bandwidth on a wholesale basis. According to the DPE, Infraco has the mandate to both supply capacity and bring down the cost of broadband.<\/p>\n
“Infraco will provide and own the long-distance Full Service Network (FSN) deployed by Eskom and Transnet. Infraco is now a stand-alone entity reporting to the Department of Public Enterprises.”<\/p>\n