The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) should forge ahead with the implementation of the Electronic Communications (EC) Act and not wait for government's broadband strategy, says Democratic Alliance MP Dene Smuts.
Smuts was reacting to yesterday's news that the Department of Communications had decided to shelve the development of a five-year broadband strategy. The plan has been postponed pending the finalisation of the terms of reference that will guide the broadband advisory council and the appointment of a local task team that includes ICT sector stakeholders.
"ICASA must urgently proceed with the implementation of the EC Act and not wait for government to decide what it must do. The Act is very clear on this that ICASA does not have to wait."
Smuts says it is unclear what government means by a broadband strategy: does it refer to the types of technology to be employed, or social services such as e-government?
Godfrey Oliphant (ANC), chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, says he is not sure exactly what the communications department means by shelving the strategy. However, it is clear that several issues have to be workshopped so that timelines can be developed, he notes.
Technology-neutral
"It also includes the digital migration strategy and, as far as broadband is concerned, we need to have clarity on what needs to be done, when and how," he says.
A senior industry analyst, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the department's development of the broadband strategy is almost irrelevant as far as business and the law is concerned.
"The EC Act is technology-neutral, so what was meant by a broadband strategy?" she asks.
The analyst says communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri's budget speech in May spoke about the development of a number of committees. This included a committee for unbundling the local loop for the provision of telecommunications services for the 2010 World Cup.
"It will be interesting to see what she [Matsepe-Casaburri] has to say about the progress of these committees in her upcoming budget speech this year," she says.
ICASA councillor Zolisa Masiza says the shelving of the broadband policy will not affect what ICASA has to do in terms of the EC Act, but may affect people and companies that may wish to introduce products and services.
"We will have to wait for more clarity on this issue from the department, before deciding on our future strategy."
Related story:
SA's broadband strategy on hold
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