Minister Yunus Carrim said: “We welcome ICASA’s decisions and believe they serve the country’s interests. We would like to see these new rates contribute to consumers and business paying less to communicate and benefitting economic growth and job creation over time. The high costs to communicate have deterred global and domestic investment in this country.

“These rates provide for greater competition which we expect to lead to reductions in the cost to communicate.”

“We understand that ICASA consulted extensively with all the parties and we feel that they should accept the outcomes. What some of them may lose in immediate profits will be exceeded by what they will gain in the medium and long term”

The declining cost to communicate complements the goals of “SA Connect”, the country’s broadband policy, of bridging the digital divide by making broadband accessible and affordable.

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