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The process for issuing a third cellular license is on track and would be awarded by July this year, according to Jay Naidoo, Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting.

Naidoo said recent media reports citing regulatory uncertainty and delays in the process as causes for foreign operators losing interest in participating in the tender were unfounded.

"I have not been approached by either the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA), nor major foreign telecommunications operators nor local empowerment groups about problems with the regulatory environment or about the possibility of delaying the process," he says.

"In fact this week I met with two foreign operators who reiterated their interest in participating in the tender. The tender closes on 14 June and unless I am presented with very good reasons to delay it, we will proceed with adjudication of the submissions and awarding of the tender by July, which is the deadline I have set for issuing a new license," he says.

Further indications that the licensing process is on track is the fact that tomorrow (Friday, 14 May) SATRA will release a copy of the draft license as well as an Information Memorandum dealing with the most commonly asked questions regarding the licensing of a third cellular operator, Naidoo says.

"The documentation will also indicate that outstanding regulations relating to the third cellular license will be released within the next few weeks," he says.

Issued by: Ministry for Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, 13 May 1999

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