Independent Communications Authority of South Africa

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The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is the regulator of the telecommunications and the broadcasting sectors in South Africa. It was established in July 2000 and falls under the South African Ministry of Communications.

[edit] Background

ICASA took over the functions of two previous regulators, the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). These regulators were merged to form ICASA in order to ensure effective and seamless regulation of the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors as well as to accommodate the convergence of technologies.

In 2006 it was determined that the South African postal regulator should be merged into ICASA.

[edit] Criticism

ICASA has been criticised for continual delays in publishing regulations, drafting ill-thought-out and meaningless regulations, and inability to keep qualified staff. Seeming unwillingness to draft any regulations which would affect the profit margins of Telkom, South Africa's incumbent telecoms monopoly, has led many in South African consumer groups to believe that the state is protecting Telkom due to the profits it makes from its 39% share in the monopoly.