Johannesburg – In response to a new ICASA proposal that would mandate free WiFi hotspots at 171 government centres, Telkom has struck a conciliatory and forward-looking tone, emphasising its willingness to collaborate on shaping South Africa’s digital future.
The proposed regulations, gazetted by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), would impose new Universal Service Obligations on the partly state-owned operator.
The plan requires Telkom to provide uncapped, free internet connectivity with speeds of at least 30Mbps to 171 Thusong Service Centres in underserved and rural areas.
Additionally, Telkom must install all necessary equipment and establish public WiFi hotspots with a 300MB daily and 2GB monthly data cap for users—all at no cost to the centres.
While the mandate is strict, with a three-year rollout deadline and potential fines for non-compliance, Telkom’s response focuses on partnership.
The company stated it “welcomes opportunities to collaborate on regulatory developments that advance inclusive and sustainable connectivity.”
This sets the tone for its entire position.
Rather than contesting the proposal, Telkom confirmed that it has “been engaging constructively with ICASA over several months as part of a collaborative and transparent regulatory process.”
The company frames the proposed amendments as a procedural step in an ongoing dialogue to ensure obligations are “both practical and responsive to the needs of society.”
Lunga Siyo, CEO of Telkom Consumer and Small Business, reinforced that the company views this as a chance to promote a balanced framework for the ICT sector.
“Our focus remains on enabling inclusive and sustainable connectivity while supporting an environment that encourages growth in the sector,” he said.
The proposal acknowledges that the telecoms market has changed, making some of Telkom’s old obligations redundant. In their place, ICASA is pushing to finally connect Thusong Centres, which were established in 1999 as ICT hubs but often lack internet today.
Telkom’s statement concluded by embracing its role as a national operator, saying its engagement with ICASA “reflects our shared vision of building a connected society where no one is left behind.”
This suggests that while the path forward involves complex negotiations, Telkom is publicly aligning itself with the regulator’s goal of digital inclusion, turning a potential confrontation into a conversation about shared responsibility.
“ICASA and Telkom look forward to strengthening this partnership as they work together to deliver meaningful connectivity solutions for all South Africans.”
*This article first appeared in our sister publication techfinancials.co.za
