ICASA to Hold a Public Hearing on Signal Distribution Services

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (“the Authority”) will hold virtual public hearings in respect of the Discussion Document on Signal Distribution Services, in accordance with section 4(6) of the Electronic Communication Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005), as amended (ECA).

This follows the publication of the Notice of Intention to Conduct a Market Inquiry into Signal Distribution Services in South Africa by the Authority on 17 September 2021 in Government Gazette No. 45172.

The Authority subsequently published a Discussion Document on the Market Inquiry into Signal Distribution Services in South Africa on 22 April 2022, Government Gazette No. 46255.

The purpose of the inquiry is to assess the state of competition in the signal distribution market and to determine whether or not there are markets or market segments within the signal distribution services value chain that may warrant regulatory intervention in terms of section 67(4) of the ECA.

Signal distribution is an essential electronic communications network service that transports radio and television programs created by broadcasting licensees to the actual broadcast target area, allowing listeners and viewers to hear or watch those programs on radio or television.

The hearings are an important step in the market inquiry process, this process is  expected to help the Authority better understand the competition dynamics and challenges in the signal distribution services markets, as highlighted by some stakeholders.

Cllr Yolisa Kedama

By the deadline of 29 June 2022, the Authority had received six (6) written submissions, from: eMedia, MultiChoice, Primedia, Radio Pulpit, SABC and Sentech.