Tuesday, February 16, 2010

South Africa - Statement by the Minister of Communications on Interconnect fee reduction

[doc] The Minister of Communications, General (Ret) Siphiwe Nyanda has noted the decision by ICASA to reject the proposal by mobile operators with regard to the reduction of interconnect fees.

The mobile operators made a submission to ICASA to reduce the interconnection rate conditional upon on a 3 year glide path period, which ICASA has turned down.

It’s also the Minister view that the proposed three year glide path period is long and unfair to consumers who have been affected by high telecommunication costs for too long.

The Minister respects the independence of ICASA and had indicated in his report to parliament last year that the final decision on this matter rested with the regulator.

The Ministry believes that the 89/77 cents (peak and off-peak respectively) arereasonable were they to be implemented within a shorter period than that suggested by the mobile operators.

Statement by the Minister of Communications on Interconnect fee reduction

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