The second national operator (SNO) interim board met this week to discuss strategy after the communications minister`s surprise announcement on market liberalisation last week.
The board said in a statement that SNO participants had a variety of concerns that required "further discussion and assurance" from the minister, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, but that the general sentiment expressed at the meeting was positive.
"As regards the market liberalisation announcement, I cannot see how anyone cannot view this development as being good for the market," says Karl Socikwa, chairman of the SNO interim board.
"Surely we will have to revise some of the key data for the SNO business plan because now we`re talking of a market where the PSTS duopoly will be surrounded by a swarm of niche players nibbling away at some lucrative segments. This calls for a strategy re-look. We`ve never had the privilege of being a monopoly, so we see these developments as enhancing the breadth of opportunities rather than being a threat."
The interim board says it is committed to a speedy resolution of issues so the SNO can be launched as quickly as possible.
"The minister has articulated the way in which she would like to proceed regarding the granting of a licence to the SNO. We welcome these developments. We have studied the announcement and will meet with all role-players, including the Department of Communications and ICASA, to discuss the way forward," says Socikwa.
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