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BT gets SA telecoms licences

4 February 2009

The South African subsidiary of UK-based telecoms group BT has been awarded both individual electronic communications services (i-ECS) and electronic communication network services (i-ECNS) licences, paving the way for the company to broaden the range of networked IT services it provides in the country.

The i-ECNS licence provides similar provisioning rights as presently held by local telecommunications incumbents and the major local mobile operators.

"Awarding of the licences represents another milestone for BT in South Africa," BT South Africa country manager Keith Matthews said in a statement this week.

"The new licences will allow us to further expand our portfolio and offer a comprehensive set of networked IT services to our existing and new customers."

Opening up telecoms market

This development is part of the broader opening up of South Africa's telecommunications market, with several value added network services (VANS) operators receiving licences. BT has been operating in the South African market with a VANS licence.

Last year, under pressure from the key players in the telecommunications sector, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa decided to convert the VANS licences into individual i-ECNS and i-ECS licences.

"This year has already been designated as the 'year of bandwidth' in South Africa as the telecommunications market deregulates," said Matthews. "We welcome this new opportunity to deliver the full spectrum of our global know-how and technologies to this important market."

SAinfo reporter