ICASA ICT \Stakeholder Engagement Session

The NAB attended ICASA’s two-day ICT Sector Situational Analysis stakeholder engagement session in Johannesburg (8-9 October 2024). The session aimed to help ICASA better understand key concerns within the ICT sector in preparation for the finalisation of its five-year strategic plan. ICASA presented its “postures” under “thought streams” and then invited stakeholders to engage in break-away discussions in the following workstreams:

-             End Users;

-             Content & Applications; and

-             Networks.

These discussions were followed by a plenary session where each workstream presented a summary of key issues. Among the topics that were discussed under the Content and Applications workstream were the Draft White Paper and policy gaps, the core mandate of ICASA, its Section 192 Constitutional independence and its role in content regulation. 

Other issues related to signal distribution, digital migration, spectrum management, investment in infrastructure, regulatory parity, and the development of a discussion document on OTTs by ICASA, as well as AI in respect of potential amendments to the code of conduct. 

There was also general discussion on ICASA’s funding and operational efficiency (regulatory impact assessments, evidence-based regulations, delays in processes, and capacity challenges). The NAB looks forward to further engagements with ICASA and wishes it well in finalising its five-year strategic plan.