ICASA's screwing poor people

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 20 March 2007

ICASA is screwing poor people in rural areas because of delays on their part where the allocation of spectrum to Under Serviced Area Licensees (USALs) is of a concern.

In the case of one USAL, Thinta Thinta, poor rural investors stand to lose out if Thinta Thinta needs to close down because of a lack of funding. The Independent Development Corporation (IDC) already ‘…approved funding for its infrastructure roll-out in November 2005, on condition the regulator allocate spectrum to the USAL’ (ICASA delay could ruin USAL, Senne, 16 March 2007).

In other words, if ICASA fails to allocate the necessary spectrum to Thinta Thinta in time, it will have to close its doors, resulting in more financial hardship.

The idea is not to give the impression that ICASA is only screwing poor people in rural areas, but rather to show how low ICASA can scoop…

Is ICASA really in the wrong here?

Well, you can decide for yourself.

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) tends to agree with Chief Operating Officer of Thinta Thinta, Sibonela Mvuyana, who ‘…alleges the legitimate delays caused by the reallocation process were worsened by the inefficiency of ICASA officials responsible for the spectrum allocation process’ (ICASA delay could ruin USAL, Senne, 16 March 2007).

In other words, while acknowledging legitimate delays it’s clear that the relevant ICASA officials are not making things easier at all.

One thing is sure: Mvuyana is not the first person to complain about ICASA’s lack of performance.

Will the possible closure of Thinta Thinta reflect negatively on USALs in general?

Yes, according to Mvuyana who said: “The perception created in the ICT industry is that USALs are failing and that the people running them don't know what they are doing” (ICASA delay could ruin USAL, Senne, 16 March 2007). While it might be that some USALs close down due to mismanagement or lack of proper management, it’s certainly not the case with Thinta Thinta, where ‘…delays by ICASA are the sole reason the USAL may fold’ (ICASA delay could ruin USAL, Senne, 16 March 2007).

In other words, if Thinta Thinta closes down due to delays by ICASA, it might be perceived that incompetence on the part of Thinta Thinta’s management led to the closure, impacting negatively on USALs in general.

Are illegitimate delays by ICASA limited to spectrum applications made by USALs?

Not by a far shot. Neotel, South Africa’s Second National Operator, is pretty much sitting in the same boat as Thinta Thinta where delays in the processing of spectrum applications is of a concern.

The main difference is that serious delays in spectrum allocation won’t close Neotel down, but will surely impact on its ability to effectively compete against Telkom.This is true while ICASA and Telkom are clearly not worried about the state of affairs…

It seems that the staff left at ICASA is incapable of doing a proper job. It seems that they’re doing a shitty job at the expense of the public at large, as well as people who really can’t afford to pay for their incompetence, like the poor people in the rural areas.

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) hopes ICASA get its house in order before USALs like Thinta Thinta needs to close down because of illegitimate delays, resulting for one in an increased degree of pain and suffering experienced by the poor in South Africa.