SOUTH AFRCIA LEGALIZING VOIP-WHAT's THE OPPORTUNITY?

Below is a recent article from a South African news feed. For those of you who know me, I lived in South Africa for 3 years in Jo-burg and Capetown. The stipulation of who can be the value-added reseller of VOIP will be limited to ISPs in South Africa of which there are several hundred. The ideal use of VOIP would be for National use, as the long-distance and cost of local calling in South Africa is extremely high. By setting up pops in the various ISPs one stands to make revenue from the local market and the international market. The safe play is focussing on the local market.

There is a lot of opportunity, I have been studying this market for 5 years now. The best way to enter would be by purchasing the IP PBX for each major city, 23 - 25 in total, as this is where the majority of business occurs in the regions and number of calls. In addition, set-up calling cards for the grass roots market and set-up agencies.

It is an exciting opportunity, and heavily inter-connected ISPs make it very easy to channel efforts of doing business in SA. If anyone is interested in entering South Africa for VOIP or is a South African wanting to begin a VOIP business, I will share my knowledge and expertise. Please comment on the blog or email me at Gibson@vocalScape.com.

Those interested in creating a VOIP franchise utilizing our softwares in South Africa, please contact me as soon as possible. We are choosing 3 exclusive providers for South Africa and they will be setting up a reseller network with the ISPs.

SOUTH AFRICAN NEWSCommunications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri announced today that as of 1 February, value-added network service (VANS) providers will be allowed to carry voice using any protocol.

This means that thanks to the changes made to the Telecommunications Act, the long-awaited legalisation of voice over IP will finally be realised early next year.

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“Because of technological developments, there is no longer any difference in the transmission of voice, video and data, therefore it is no longer necessary to prohibit the provision of voice by VANS,” says Matsepe-Casaburri.

Another change allows for self-provision and greater choice for mobile operators, which may now utilise any fixed lines that may be required for the provision of the service, including fixed lines made available by Telkom or any other person providing a public switched telecommunication service.

Other changes include:

* Provision of public pay phones. Any person may now apply for a licence to provide public pay phone services in any area of the republic. “The department is considering the removal of licensing requirements to provide these services.”

* Cession of telecommunications services via VANS. From next year, a person who provides a value-added network service shall be entitled to cede or assign the right to use, or to sublet or part with control or otherwise dispose of the telecommunications facilities used for the provision of the value-added network service.

* Private telecommunications network operators shall be entitled to resell spare capacity and facilities or to cede or assign his or her rights to use such facilities or to sublet or otherwise part with control thereof. The minister says allowing these facilities to be resold would promote optimal usage of the total telecommunications infrastructure in SA and increase access to communities and consumers.

* As from 18 January 2005, public schools and further education training institutions will be entitled to a 50% discount on: all telecommunications calls to an Internet service provider (ISP), any connection or similar fees or charges levied by an ISP for accessing the Internet or transmitting and receiving any signals via the Internet or for such access and transmission and reception.

Matesepe-Casaburrri says further policy announcements will be made in October. These will address the issue of service-based licences to be operational by May 2005, the remaining underserviced area licence, the second national operator, the Convergence Bill and the ICT BEE charter

Comments

[sindile commey]

I am keen to get involved marketing voip solutions in sa. I have seen what IWC offers. Are there other similar opportunities out there?

[melo]

dear Sir
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