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The Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services on Friday called on the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) to fast-track the realignment of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministerial Policy directives to ensure reductions in the cost to communicate.
The committee also urged the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to work more closely with network operators to ensure that the cost to communicate was reduced, as well as that investment in infrastructure in rural communities was realised.
The DTPS, Icasa, Telkom Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Neotel had appeared before the committee to report on the progress made on reducing the cost to communicate since the 2010 three-year interval glide path came to an end in 2013.
In their presentations, network operators highlighted limited spectrum, vandalism, the high cost of rentals, a lack of policy on rapid deployment guidelines and regulations, an inability to access private properties on time and power outages by Eskom as the most significant challenges they were faced with.
Committee chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi said more discussion was needed regarding the cost to communicate, especially with the DTPS on the policy direction, and with Icasa on the regulatory framework.
“We take note of the concerns raised by operators and it is incumbent on DTPS to create a conducive environment in which to operate – an environment in which a low cost to communicate can be realised.
“At the same time, the operators are urged to ensure transparency of pricing and that the wholesale reduction must be passed on to consumers. The regulator Icasa needs to ensure the operators make investment in rural areas to ensure that network reach is widely accessible, affordable and available even in the remote and far-flung areas,” she added.