National State of Disaster due to COVID-19 – South African Telecommunications Sector

We defend your rights passionately and expertly.

[13 May 2022]

In light of the end of the National State of Disaster, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has released the following termination dates and deadlines as outlined in the ICT COVID–19 National State of Disaster Regulations, 2021:

Notice on Termination of ICT COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations

RegulationSubjectTermination Date and/or Due Date
4(5) & (6)Advertising license conditions & Local television content quotas relaxation4 July 2022
4(7) & (8)Programme syndication relaxation13 April 2022
4(13) & (14)Suspension of the requirement to submit hardcopies of applications26 April 2022
4(15) & (16)Suspension of the 60-day period for ICASA to notify the applicant of the outcome of the pre-registration26 April 2022
4(19)Duration of special event community broadcasting service and radio frequency spectrum license for COVID-19 related programming4 May 2022
4(20), (21) & (22)Television Broadcasting Services to Persons with Disabilities7 April 2022
5(10)Duration of Type Approvals in line with the Regulations4 July 2022
5(11)Decommissioning of Type Approved equipment in the provisional radio frequency spectrum30 September 2022
6(1)Duration of temporary radio frequency spectrum licenses issued in April 202030 November 2021
6(3) & (4)Duration of provisional radio frequency spectrum licenses & return of spectrum to ICASA30 June 2022
6(19)Duration of spectrum sharing agreements30 June 2022
6(21)Maintenance of network connectivity for virtual classrooms platforms by licensees with temporary radio frequency spectrum17 months after deployment of the connectivity solution
6(23)Maintenance of network connectivity for schools by licensees assigned with provisional spectrum12 months from the date determined by ICASA
Other provisions not listed above4 April 2022

Telecoms-Specific Information

Telecoms-Specific Regulations

Documents and processes needed to provide essential services

Declaration of Compliance to Operate Under Level 4 Lockdown

Government registration website for essential services – DTI Media release

Permit to Perform an Essential or Permitted Service

Form for reporting disputes in the deliver of telecommunications infrastructure and services during the COVID-19 period (to be used where a telecommunications service provider is prevented from travelling required for providing essential services during the lockdown period / where there is a dispute about access between a telecommunications service provider and a public or private land-owner; to be submitted to Mr Peter Mello, pmello@dtps.gov.za)

General regulations

Regulations and Guidelines – Coronavirus Covid-19 (all related regulations, guidelines and notices)

Risk Adjustment Strategy Regulations – detailing directions from 1 May 2020 (29 April 2020)

Disaster Management Act – COVID-19 occupational health and safety measures in workplaces (29 April 2020)

Fabric Face Masks – Recommended Guidelines (Department: Trade, Industry and Competition) [24 April 2020]

ICASA and other organisations

[11 November 2021]

ICASA has published the ICT COVID–19 National State of Disaster Regulations, 2021 which repeal the 2020 Regulations.

[28 May 2021]

ICASA has published the updated ICT COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations.

ICT COVID-19 National Disaster Fifth Amendment Regulations

[22 April 2021]

ICASA has published its review of the ICT COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations for public comment.

Draft ICT COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations

ICASA publishes a Call for Comments on the ICT COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations

Submissions are due by 16h00 on 7 May 2021 and may be sent to Mr Davis Kgosimolao Moshweunyane per email covid19regulations@icasa.org.za.

Media Release: ICASA operations during Alert Level-3 Lockdown (29 May 2020)

Media Release: ICASA update on working arrangements to be taken during level 4 (30 April 2020)

ICASA Media Statement: Response to Telkom’s concerns regarding assignment of spectrum in the 2300 MHz band (21 april 2020)

ICASA Media Statement: Temporary radio frequency spectrum issued to qualifying applicants in an effort to deal with COVID-19 communication challenges (17 april 2020)

ICASA Media Statement: Applications received for the temporary release of the radio frequency spectrum in a quest to fight the covid-19 pandemic (9 April 2020)

ICASA Media Statement: Emergency release of spectrum to meet the spike in broadband services demand due to covid-19 (6 April 2020)

Media Release: ICASA announces working arrangements to be undertaken during the lockdown period (26 March 2020)

ICASA engages with licensees to open their services to all South Africans in light of the COVID-19 pandemic (19 March 2020)

Media Release: ICASA is reviewing how it conducts its business amidst the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic (18 March 2020)

ICASA Media Release: Letter to all ECS and ECNS Licensees: Electronic Communications Service packages considering COVID-19 outbreak (18 March 2020)

Film and Publication Board Lock Down Notice

ITU Guidelines for national emergency telecommunication plans

Covid-19: SA ICT Task Team Response

Miscellaneous links

Steve Song’s spreadsheet of Country Responses regarding Internet access during COVID-19 Pandemic

Ofcom information on the coronavirus (Covid-19)

Guidance Note on the Processing of Personal Information in the Management and Containment of COVID-19 Pandemic in South Africa in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013

Ongoing Updates

[27 November 2020]
ICT COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations: Third Amendment

[22 September 2020]
Short Code Mandate for National Emergency Services

[12 July 2020]
Essential Services Permit Form Update

Amendment to Regulation 33
5. Regulation 33 is amended to include:
“(1A) A curfew is enforced from 21:00 to 04:00 daily. Exceptions include individuals with permits (Form 2, Annexure A) for essential services or attending to emergencies.”

Substitution of Regulation 43
8. Regulation 43 is replaced with:
“Public Transport
43. (1) ‘Long distance travel’ refers to trips of 200 km or more, within or across provinces.”

[3 July 2020]
Survey: Impact of COVID-19 on Digital Economy Businesses (Word)

[12 June 2020]
Amendment of Directions on Risk-Adjusted Strategy for Communications Sector

[16 May 2020]
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (the DCDT) presented to the Portfolio Committee for Communications on its efforts in meeting the COVID-19 challenge.

Department_on_Covid_and_reconfiguration_of_entities

[11 May 2020]
Disaster Management Act (Amendment) – Electronic Communications, Postal and Broadcasting Directions Issued under Regulation 10(8) of the Act [516_43299] (11 May 2020), which removes the following:

All licensed entities must not effect any price increases and not perform mobile number portability for duration of the COVID-19 national disaster.

2. SCOPE

2.4 Tracking and tracing of persons;

8. INDIVIDUAL TRACK AND TRACE

8.1 The Electronic Communication Network Service (ENCS) and Electronic Communication Service (ECS) Licensees, internet and digital sector in general, must provide location-based services in collaboration with the relevant authorities identified to support designated departments to assist and combat the spread of COVID-19. 

12. PROHIBITION ON PRICE INCREMENT AND MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY

[3 May 2020]
Directions on the Risk-Adjusted Strategy for the Communications and Digital Technologies Sector [659_43263] (3 May 2020)

Declaration of Compliance to Operate Under Level 4 Lockdown

[29 April 2020]
Risk Adjustment Strategy Regulations – detailing directions from 1 May 2020 [480_43258] (29 April 2020)

Disaster Management Act – COVID-19 occupational health and safety measures in workplaces [479_43257] (29 April 2020)

Fabric Face Masks – Recommended Guidelines (Department: Trade, Industry and Competition) [24 April 2020]

[20 April 2020]
Zero-Rating Application Form for Websites

[17 April 2020]
ICASA Media Statement: Temporary radio frequency spectrum issued to qualifying applicants in an effort to deal with COVID-19 communication challenges (17 april 2020)

ICASA has made the following temporary assignments: 

700/800MHz: 

  • Telkom – 40MHz; 
  • MTN – 40MHz; 
  • Vodacom – 40MHz. 

2300MHz: 

  • Telkom – 20MHz (in addition to the 60MHz it already has in this band); 
  • Vodacom – 20MHz. 

2600MHz: 

  • Telkom – 40MHz; 
  • Vodacom – 50MHz; 
  • MTN – 50MHz; 
  • RAIN Networks – 30MHz (in addition to the 20MHz it already has in this band). 

3500MHz: 

Liquid Telecoms – 4MHz (in addition to the 56MHz which it already has in this band). 

Telkom – 12MHz out of the 32MHz for which it applied (in addition to the 28MHz which it already has in this band); 

Vodacom – 50MHz; 

MTN – 50MHz out of the 70MHz for which it applied; 

[16 April 2020]
Letter – Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT): Telecommunication Infrastructure and Services During COVID-19 Period

Disaster Management Act – Amendment of Regulations issued in Terms of Section 27 [465_43232] (16 April 2020)

[15 April 2020]
Harmonisation of Short Code ‘111’ for COVID-19 Emergency Services

Covid-19: SA ICT Task Team Response

The South African ICT Industry, as a multi-stakeholder community , has established an Industry Task Force in response to the COVID19 pandemic.

The FTTx Council, an industry association focused on high speed telecommunications infrastructure, is providing administrative support and overall management of this Task Force.

Objectives:

  • To develop a response from the ICT sector to provide support to relevant state structures, business sectors and society at large at this time of Covid-19.
  • To facilitate collaboration between ICT stakeholders
  • To ensure that people working in the industry, SMME’s and other entities are able to function efficiently during the lockdown

Participants:

ICT sector or any other sector which may be impacted by ICT

Operating Model:

The ICT Industry Task Force is an open, democratic and transparent group in the way processes are conducted.

[7 April 2020]
Amendment to Electronic Communications Directions under Disaster Management Act

[6 April 2020]
ICT COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations
Temporary spectrum assignments made for IMT bands (700MHz, 800MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz, 3500MHz) valid until 30 November 2020. Applications required detailed network performance reports and expected consumer benefits (e.g., reduced data prices).

  • Media statement: Emergency release of spectrum to meet the spike in broadband services demand due to COVID-19 (6 April 2020)
    • ICASA has made provision for temporary assignments in the following International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum bands: 700MHz, 800MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz and 3500MHz.
    • Applications for assignment in these bands must be submitted to COVIDATA@icasa.org.za by no later than 16h00 on 9 April 2020.
    • Assignments made during this process will only remain valid until 30 November 2020.
    • Assignments will be made in accordance with the criteria and conditions stipulated in Annexure A “COVID-19 Temporal Spectrum Access Framework”, which provides that

“The I-ECS and I-ECNS who needs access to this band need to demonstrate the impact on network performance will be with additional spectrum. The following method can be followed:

    1. Provide the network performance report before the COVID-19 outbreak with the currently assigned spectrum holding;
    2. Provide the current network performance;
    3. Indicate the Areas that are highly constrained;
    4. Provide the network projections during the national lockdown;
    5. Indicate the band you require access to and the bandwidth required (For the immediate use only);
    6. Provide the modelled network performance with the additional spectrum you require; and
    7. Provide benefits to be realized by the consumers (i.e. reduced data prices, free daily bundle to all the customers, wi-fi connectivity etc.)”

[27 March 2020]

[26 March 2020]

[25 March 2020]
COVID-19 Disaster Response Directions Overview
Briefing highlights:

  • Fake news removal agreement
  • Spectrum relief considerations
  • Tracking and tracing collaboration
  • Support for education and health sectors
  • No price increments or number porting
  • Zero-rated essential sites

[24 March 2020]
President’s Address: Telecommunications as Essential Service During Lockdown
Further updates will be provided as they become available.

Recent Insights