The Business Day recently reported on the deregulation of the telecommunications market in South Africa. Stakeholders within the market, especially value-added network service providers and smaller mobile operators, are frustrated because of the slow pace at which deregulation is taking place.

Tony van Marken, executive chairman for the DataPro Group, has commented that the deregulation authorities have had the opportunity to learn from other countries that have undergone deregulation by studying their successes and failures. This however is not evident when one looks at the lack of progress and the implementation of the Electronic Communications Act.

- Information courtesy of Jennigay Coetzer, Business Day
Liberalisation, regulation and privatisation have become buzz words in the African telecommunications market. With many countries opting for deregulation, many opportunities are bound to arise for value-added network service providers and smaller mobile operators.

As per Jennigay’s article, South Africa’s transition to a more deregulated market has been slow and is frustrating many stakeholders that are eager to enter the market. But what is slowing this process down? What is the actual impact on the market? How is the next generation of regulation going to work?

All these questions and more will be answered at the 4th annual Telecoms World Africa conference taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 July - 3 August 2007 where a whole section of the programme is dedicated to liberalisation, regulation and privatisation. The following sessions have been included:

• Mokgethi Magapa, Regulatory Commercial Specialist, Botswana Telecoms Corporation, Botswana - Case study: “The impact of liberalisation and privatisation on the telecoms market in Botswana”
• Tracy Cohen, Councillor, ICASA, South Africa – “The creation of a new, viable market – understanding the need for regulatory convergence”
• Andrew Kawamara, Standardisation, Research and Programme Co-ordinator, African Telecommunications Union, Kenya – “Exploiting the increased liberalisation within Africa – achieving optimum results in all regions”
• Panel discussion on Next generation regulation with a senior representative, National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Egypt, Tracy Cohen, Councillor, ICASA, South Africa, Honourable Minister Alintuma Nsambu J.C., Ministry of ICT, Uganda, Andrew Kawamara, Standardisation, Research and Programme Co-ordinator, African Telecommunications Union, Kenya

For more information on the exciting conference visit the website at http://www.terrapinn.com/2007/telecomza.