AT&T today said it had been granted a High Court order to force Telkom to install the data services the company previously refused to install.
Telkom had argued that the data services would be used unlawfully to provide services it had been granted exclusivity on. The issue has been under dispute since late 2000 and AT&T went to court after a ruling by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) in its favour.
Telkom has until 1 September to start supplying the facilities.
The order comes after the parties reached what it termed an "interim" agreement late last month. Telkom agreed to supply AT&T with the data lines it needs to provide its services on condition that it is satisfied those lines will be used only for legal purposes.
However, Telkom intends to take the original ICASA ruling, on which AT&T based its application for the court order, under review.
"We are happy this matter is on the brink of being resolved," said local AT&T MD Peter Davies in a statement. "It is great news for our business and augers well for free and fair competition in the telecommunications marketplace in SA."
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