The sudden rush to announce the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector not only caught the media and industry unaware, but surprised some within the Department of Communications as well.
On Thursday, 26 August, rumours began circulating that minister of communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri would make some kind of announcement that day. At first members of the media discounted these rumours because a week earlier the minister had made it clear that the second national operator licence announcement would be made on 17 September. No other developments were expected.
No media briefing invitations were issued and initial calls for information to the Department of Communications were answered with a negative. Later, a department media spokesperson conceded that a statement would be issued that day, but said there would be no press conference.
Suddenly, it emerged that the department would indeed host a press conference. Those journos lucky enough to be in the loop dashed to Parliament to be confronted with the unusual sight of senior communications department staff hurrying - as they prepared for the event.
"We did not know until two hours ago that this would go ahead," one breathless staff member told me.
Why the sudden rush? Clearly the announcement was of such importance that it had to take place immediately. But who had ever heard of the department making such important announcements, anyway?
The minister`s statement about liberalisation of the market stunned the media contingent. This was evident from the sort of questions that arose, along the lines of: "But what does this all mean?"
The mystery study
The timing of the announcement was also most fortunate as it came in time for President Thabo Mbeki`s international ICT advisory council annual meeting this past weekend in the Limpopo Province.
Paul Vecchiatto, Journalist, ITWeb
Communications staffers say the decisions were taken following a "market study" conducted by the department as required by the Telecommunications Act. However, they refused to actually show the study, or indicate what it said.
They could not say who participated in the market study, what groups or companies were consulted and exactly who authored the report. When pressed for more details, one staffer snapped: "What more do you want? Have we not given you what you wanted after all the criticism you have levelled at us?"
The timing of the announcement was also most fortunate as it came in time for President Thabo Mbeki`s international ICT advisory council annual meeting this past weekend in the Limpopo Province. At last SA had something positive to report to the list of IT dignitaries that included the head of Hewlett-Packard, Carly Fiorina. After years and years of same old, same old, there was some real news to report.
The industry now has to interpret exactly what the liberalisation announcement means. In the absence of the "market study", there is precious little to go on. Even the minister has not been forthcoming in elaborating on her statements. So do not be surprised if the telecommunications "big bang" turns out to be more of a firecracker than dynamite.
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