The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has warned Sentech increased competition regulations could be heading their way in a bid to tackle its market dominance.
The message delivered during a media briefing by Pieter Grootes, ICASA’s markets and competition general manager, to the state-owned broadcasting signal distributor follows Thursday’s statement by communications minister Dina Pule that she would be taking a more hands on approach with the state-owned companies within her portfolio.
Future regulations introduced by ICASA will aim to make it easier for new players to enter the market.
Grootes said: “For community radio stations, it’s often cheaper to build their own infrastructure than to rely on Sentech.
“But few companies are going to them offering to set up radio network infrastructure.”
Sentech’s first task issued to them by ICASA is to provide extensive details of their cost model for digital television by the end of the month.
