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The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the
IDRC Acacia Initiative are interested in contributing to the public debate
regarding the conditions within which licenses are issued
to provide telecommunication services to under-serviced
areas (referred to as “Under Serviced Area Licences” or “USALs”). The
South African Telecommunications Amendment Act of
2001 provides for the licensing of Under Serviced Area Licenses, and
the communications authority, ICASA,
has announced the regulatory process for the
issuing of licences.
The DBSA and IDRC wish to work with ICASA and the
Department of Communications (DOC). This would help
to ensure that regulations and licensing conditions
pertaining to the USALs support the economic viability and sustainability of
the eventual operating companies. The outcome would be seen as
a private sector initiative, led
by a credible funding institution and international
development agency. It would also focus debate on
the economic realities surrounding these licenses, the integrity of the USAL
business plans and hence their ability to be funded. |
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