Icasa raises concerns over data regulations

Icasa has expressed concern about the delay of the implementation of End-User and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations, which would have made it possible for consumers to carry over their unused data, notes a Business Day report. Icasa spokesperson Paseka Maleka has confirmed that the implementation of the new rules, which were meant to come into effect last Friday, had been delayed pending a court hearing. Cell C has approached the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) on an urgent basis to postpone the implementation of the regulations. ‘Icasa has decided that it will defend the application by Cell C and to this end, has resolved to postpone the effective date until the matter has been heard and pronounced upon by the court. During this intervening period licencees will not be penalised for non-compliance,’ said Maleka. The effect of the extension would be that consumers would continue to be ‘prejudiced by the continued application of the impugned business rules’. ‘This would mean consumers will for the foreseeable period of the extension not be able to carry over their unused data and will continue to be charged high out-of-bundle rates without their consent,’ said Maleka.