Mashile puts himself on the line

Johannesburg, 15 Sept 2006

Short of promising to resign, Paris Mashile, chairman of the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA), said everything possible yesterday to convince consumers there would be no further delays in mobile portability implementation.

After the regulator`s announcement yesterday morning that the service - allowing consumers to switch cellular networks while keeping their phone number - will now only be available on 10 November, a hurried press conference was held to quell consumer backlash.

"I`m laying myself on the line here," said Mashile. "Hold me to 10 November - if it`s anything beyond that I`m prepared to be nailed to the scaffold."

He also threatened the cell operators with heavy financial penalties if further requests for a postponement are made.

"We have allowed them to have two bites at the apple; if they try to bite the apple again they will be eating the worm," he explained.

The three operators must submit weekly reports showing the progress they are making with portability preparations.

Mashile pointed out that 10 November gives operators 52 additional calendar days, from the previous deadline of 18 September, which he argued is ample time.

It emerged that Cell C had requested the date be pushed back to 30 October, while MTN and Vodacom were hoping for 20 November.