ICASA calls for collusion

SO THE CRIES of the peasants have finally been heard and communications regulator ICASA has bowed to pressure to address the issue of high interconnection rates.

But, true to form, the regulator has ensured that this is done as gently and unobtrusively as possible. After all, who would want to irritate the "big boys" and their mighty legal teams? In fact, ICASA recently admitted to Parliament that it was scared of the Big Three mobile operators and panics every time one of them shouts "litigation!"

A case in point was ICASA`s attempt, last year, to bring in regulations that would demystify the hidden costs of handset subsidies. Vodacom took exception to this and wagged a lawyer in the regulator`s face. ICASA promptly apologised and made the proposed regulations disappear.

So, true to character, the regulator apologetically and regretfully informed the mobile operators that it can no longer keep the lid on the interconnection issue, especially with that pesky Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille getting in on the act.

The subsequent meeting between ICASA and the operators yielded an industry-led process that will supposedly see interconnection rates dropped by February. So all`s well that ends well, right?

Eh... no. Hell no.

An industry-led process? Led by the same industry that has been overcharging the South African consumer all along? This should be entertaining, if nothing else.

Perhaps the other sectors should follow ICASA`s example. The justice system, for instance, could embark on a criminal-led process of sentencing. Why not get a bunch of murderers together and have them decide what their punishment should be?

In essence, ICASA has just given the operators carte blanche to collude. And isn`t that, as well as a host of other uncompetitive practices, what got us into this sad state in the first place? And wait for it, the operators are already mumbling that lower interconnection rates will not necessarily filter down to the consumer - now that`s a surprising turn of events.

Well done ICASA, at least your puppet masters remain happy.

Martin Czernowalow