Shackling sector development : leased lines in the Republic of South Africa

Date

2007

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Southern African Journal of Information and Communication (SAJIC), The Edge Institute / Research ICT Africa, Braamfontein, ZA

Abstract

Leased lines are basic building blocks of mobile networks, ISPs and virtual private networks. In South Africa they have been provided almost exclusively by Telkom SA, the incumbent operator, at comparatively high prices. Those prices were controlled as part of a general price cap by regulations, but in the absence of either competition or mandatory cost orientation, the level initially rose then declined (but slowly). Attempts to introduce infrastructure competition were badly managed and delayed. The Electronic Communication Act 2005 replaces these schemes, but the implementation is slow and has not yet brought changes

Description

Keywords

TELECOMMUNICATION LINES, LEASED LINES, USER CHARGES, SOUTH AFRICA, ICT SECTOR, MONOPOLIES, ICT INFRASTRUCTURE, COMPETITION, TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY

Citation

DOI