Pretoria – The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA/the Authority) is conducting virtual public hearings in respect of the Draft Equipment Authorisation Regulations published in March 2021. The public hearings will continue on 26 and 27 August 2021 from 09h00 to 17h00.

The draft Regulations seek to, among others, streamline the equipment authorisation process in accordance with the Electronic Communications Act, as well as to mitigate or avoid harmful interference with electronic communications networks – by prescribing conformance requirements for electronic communications equipment, electronic communications facilities and subscriber equipment.

Following the publication of the draft Regulations, the Authority received thirty (30) written submissions from various stakeholders, eighteen (18) of whom indicated their willingness to participate in the public hearings.

‘The use of radio equipment has become an important part of our daily lives as South Africans. It is therefore our duty as the Authority to ensure that such equipment go through authorisation and approval in order to confirm the safe use of the equipment by the public. Not only do we do that but to further protect the integrity of electronic communications networks,’ says ICASA Councillor, Dr Charley Lewis.

In line with the intentions of the public hearings, Dr Lewis further encourages the South African public to take charge and purchase or use the radio equipment that bear a mark of compliance such as the ICASA logo and the Type Approval (TA) number affixed on the equipment. ‘If they can ensure that such mark of compliance is available on the equipment, they can be sure that such equipment has gone through the process of certification,’ concludes Dr Lewis.

To join the public hearings, stakeholders are advised to follow the link below.

Click here to join the meeting

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Paseka Maleka

Tel : (012) 568 3455

Cell : 079 509 0702

E-mail : pmaleka@icasa.org.za