While pay-TV newcomer Super5Media remains silent as to why it has missed its June unveiling, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) says it has issued an extension on the company's commencement date, which should result in a September unveiling.
Paseka Maleka, manager of media and stakeholder liaisons at ICASA, explains that, in terms of ICASA regulations, when an applicant is granted a licence, they are required to begin providing a service within a certain period from the date the licence was issued.
However, the licensee can apply to the authority and request an extension and, on good cause shown, the date for commencement can be extended. This, however, does not change the terms of the licence.
“The reason for Super5Media's request for an extension was that its application for the Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) licence was still not finalised, due to compliance reasons,” says Maleka.
“It is for this reason that Super5Media has not commenced with its services. In terms of our records, Super5Media was granted a six-month extension from February 2010 to commence with its services. It is, therefore, expected that it should be ready by September this year,” he notes.
It would be in the company's best interest to try and make the September deadline, as newly licensed competitor, On Digital Media (ODM), continues to capture market share.
ODM has managed to rope in 73 000 subscribers since it started its satellite service, and the company is installing around 800 satellite dishes every day countrywide. The Top TV service runs 55 channels in various bouquets, priced between R99 and R249 a month.
Super5Media hopes to come to market with three offerings, including Internet services, IPTV and a satellite service. The company has long maintained that its licence is the only one that allows for IP-based services.
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