ICASA Gazettes Draft Terrestrial Signal Distribution Regulations

Posted 16 January 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Communications & Digital Technologies

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has released draft terrestrial signal distribution regulations for public comment, following a three-year inquiry into market competition.

In terms of the Electronic Communications Act, No. 36 of 2005, the Authority has issued these draft regulations to address ineffective competition and market failures identified in an inquiry initiated in September 2021. The draft follows previous proposals released in May 2025 and aims to refine the regulatory framework governing signal distribution services.

The proposed regulations focus on the requirements to be met by Sentech SOC Ltd in its capacity as a wholesale signal distributor and designated ‘common carrier’ for terrestrial broadcasting licensees. The framework specifically addresses the following services:

  • Terrestrial television broadcasting;
  • AM sound broadcasting; and
  • FM sound broadcasting.

Stakeholders and interested parties have until 27 February 2026 to submit written representations regarding the draft regulations to the Authority.

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

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations; professional impact is limited to maintaining technical knowledge of the evolving regulatory landscape for media and telecommunications law.
  • For your business: Legal and compliance firms representing broadcasters must review the draft to assess how proposed wholesale price controls or access requirements for Sentech might affect the operational cost structures of their practice’s clients.
  • For your clients: Broadcasting licensees (television and radio) should evaluate the draft to determine if the proposed regulations will improve access to signal distribution infrastructure or lead to more competitive wholesale pricing from the common carrier.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/communications-draft-signal-distribution-regulations-out-for-comment

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.