Yesterday was the closing date for applications for television subscription licences, with notable submissions from the SABC (in collaboration with its signal distribution partner Sentech) and from Telkom.
It seems one or two large names will try to offer serious competition to MultiChoice`s DSTV service.
The SABC reported healthy results earlier in the week, leaving little doubt that with some additional help from government, it could launch a serious pay-TV challenge.
However, it is the Telkom application that is perhaps the most interesting - with its recent upgrade of the 1Mbps service to 4Mbps now looking ominous.
Digital migration
Internet Solutions secured a court order for the authorities to invade the premises.
Dave Glazier, journalist, ITWeb
While on the topic of TV, at a conference on Tuesday, Sentech`s acting COO Frans Lindeque revealed that the state-owned signal distributor has firm step-by-step deadlines for each stage of the migration to digital TV. In an enlightening presentation, delegates heard how the R1 billion will be spent.
Verizon lockdown
A couple of anonymous tip-offs early yesterday morning resulted in ITWeb breaking the news of the lockdown at Verizon`s Gallo Manor offices. An Anton Piller search and seizure order was served on Verizon, after Internet Solutions secured a court order for the authorities to invade the premises. Keep reading ITWeb for the latest developments.
Neotel launches
Yesterday`s other big news was the unveiling of the second national operator`s name and branding - Neotel. At the official launch of the telco`s wholesale services, MD Ajay Pandey said Neotel will offer its first services to consumers by March next year.
MTN riding the wave
MTN expects to earn between $300 million and $400 million as a result of synergy between it and the latest addition to its stable, Investcom - the Beirut-based telco it recently bought for R33.5 billion. Both MTN and Investcom posted good results this week, with MTN`s revenue hitting R20 billion, and Invescom`s more than R4 billion.
Where has the ICT charter gone?
The ICT sector`s empowerment charter, which has been with government for a year, seems to have disappeared into obscurity. Adrian Schofield, head of research at ForgeAhead and a committee member tasked with drawing up the charter, says the delay is a cause of frustration to all who worked on the charter.
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