ICASA Inquiry: New Individual Network Service Licenses

Posted 25 November 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Communications & Digital Technologies

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has initiated a formal inquiry to determine the merits of issuing new individual electronic communications network service (I-ECNS) licences.

In terms of the Electronic Communications Act, No. 36 of 2005, ICASA gazetted a notice on 27 January 2026 extending the deadline for stakeholder commentary on this inquiry. The first phase of the process requires the completion of a questionnaire designed to assess the impact of additional licensing on the telecommunications sector. The deadline for submissions is now 16 February 2026, having been extended from the original date of 30 January 2026.

This inquiry is conducted pursuant to a ministerial directive gazetted in August 2025. The directive mandates that ICASA establish whether the issuance of new I-ECNS licences is likely to facilitate infrastructure investment, promote competition, and enhance service quality within the Republic. The questionnaire specifically solicits input on:

  • Current market structure and levels of competition;
  • Barriers to entry for new network service providers;
  • Availability and allocation of radio frequency spectrum; and
  • The potential socio-economic impact of increased network competition.

Click here to download the ICASA notice and extension.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is channelled through firm-level regulatory advisory and compliance monitoring.
  • For your business: Regulatory and legal departments must evaluate the questionnaire to determine how potential new market entrants might affect existing network service valuations and competitive positioning.
  • For your clients: Telecommunications stakeholders and prospective network operators must complete and submit the ICASA questionnaire by the 16 February 2026 deadline to ensure their interests are considered in the licensing framework development.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/electronic-communications-icasa-begins-individual-network-service-licensing-inquiry

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.