Pretoria – The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services as well as the African Telecommunications Union is hosting the first Southern African International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Regional Radiocommunication Seminar for Africa 2019 (RRS-19-Africa) from 13 to 17 May 2019 at The Capital Empire Hotel, Sandhurst, in Johannesburg.

The RRS is arranged as a complement to the biennial World Radiocommunications Seminars (WRS); and in order to reach developing countries who are faced with difficulties to attend WRS.

In his opening address, the Acting Chairperson of ICASA, Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng said that he believes the Seminar will present an opportunity for delegates to engage vigorously and position the Region well considering the upcoming World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-19) to be held in Egypt later this year. “On the other hand we continue to ensure that we execute our mandate in a manner that promotes competition, facilitate transformation of the ICT sector through our various interventions and to provide a regulatory environment that encourages investment in the sector,” says Dr. Modimoeng.

The Seminar will, among other things, cover concepts related to spectrum management as well as the procedures associated to the recording of frequency assignments in the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR).

In order to ensure that the country leverages on the opportunities presented with the hosting of the Seminar, ICASA in collaboration with Huawei is hosting a selected number of students who are currently studying within the field of electronic engineering from various institutions of higher learning across the South Africa; with the sole purpose of exposing and introducing them to the radiocommunications sector.

“As a regulator, we understand that our mandate goes beyond just developing regulations and implementing such regulations. We also have a part to play in developing skills for our personnel and that of South Africans through our licensing initiatives. Having considered that, the exposure of these students to the work environment and introduction to the radiocommunications sector will go a long way in shaping their future and assisting them to have a clear and pre-conceived idea of how things are done in the corporate world,” says Dr. Modimoeng.

“Events of this nature, magnitude and size are critical in that they inform our regulatory agenda as a developing country; and provides an opportunity for regulators to learn more and in detail about international best practices regarding the efficient use of spectrum to ensure we deliver  on our important mandate of regulating in the public interest,” concludes Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng.

Ends

For all media enquiries please contact:

Paseka Maleka

012 568 3455

079 509 0702 pmaleka@icasa.org.za

Learn more about the RRS-19-Africa on this link