Monday, 24 November 2008 - With Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri announcing on Friday that the ministry will not petition the Supreme Court of Appeal with regard to the "Altech matter", some sense seems to have finally prevailed within the Department of Communications.

There has been considerable coverage in the press over recent months regarding the court case lodged by Altech Autopage on 16 May, concerning the right VANS had to self-provide telecommunications infrastructure. This initially came to a head on 29 August when the Pretoria High Court ruled in Altech's favour, stating that VANS did, under the old Telecommunications Act, have this right. ICASA at that point indicated that they would commence issuing ECNS licenses to previous VANS.

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Thursday, 6 November 2008 - Judgement has just been handed down in the High Court on the DoC’s application for an interdict against ICASA issuing individual ENCS licenses. The judge ruled against the DoC and awarded costs against them as well. ICASA has yet again been ordered by the Court to issue licenses.

The DoC does still have the option to petition the Chief Justice but there has not yet been any indication that it intends doing so.

Friday, 31 October 2008 - The Communications Users Association of South Africa welcomes today's decision by Acting High Court Judge Davis against Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri's application for leave to appeal the 29 August judgment handed down in favour of Altech Autopage's High Court Application. This hopefully finally clears up the meaning of the unclear Ministerial Determinations of 2004, to confirm that VANS can indeed, self provide.

While not everyone will be pleased by the ruling, overall the decision is likely to increase liberalisation and competition in the local telecoms market - and that's ultimately going to be a good thing for South African business and consumers.

Communications Minister Matsepe-Casaburri made a ministerial determination in 2004 which indicated that VANS would be able to build their own networks. ICASA initially interpreted the Determinations as confirmation that VANS would be able to self-provide, but the minister later said that she had never intended this to be the case.

CUASA now hopes that ICASA will commence the process of issuing ECNS licenses, as they announced they would do between 25 September and 1 October, but on which they reneged.

4 September 2008 - CUASA's Ray Webber delivered a presentation at a luncheon arranged by the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) entitled "Perspectives on ICT Development and Regulation in SA”.

A web version of Mr Webber's Power Point presentation is available for viewing. More

2 September 2008 - The Communications Users Association of South Africa welcomes Friday's landmark judgement made in favour of Altech Autopage's High Court Application – a decision which clears up the meaning of an uncertain ministerial determination to confirm that VANS can indeed, self provide.