Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005)

Chapter 7 : Interconnection

38. Interconnection regulations

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(1)
(a)The Authority must prescribe regulations to facilitate the conclusion of interconnection agreements by stipulating interconnection agreement principles. The regulations may include any regulations referred to in section 39.
(b)The regulations may include any regulations referred to in sections 39 and 41.

[Section 38(1) substituted by section 20(a) of the Electronic Communications Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 1 of 2014)]

 

(2)Interconnection regulations and interconnection agreement principles must provide for a framework which may include a reference interconnection offer containing model terms and conditions for interconnection.

 

(3)The interconnection regulations and interconnection agreement principles may include, but are not limited to matters relating to—
(a)the time frame and procedure for—
(i)the negotiation of interconnection agreements;
(ii)the conclusion of an interconnection agreement; and
(iii)the technical implementation of the interconnection agreement;
(b)the quality, performance and level of service to be provided;
(c)subject to and in accordance with section 41, interconnection pricing principles;
(d)the provision of electronic communications facilities to establish points of interconnection;
(e)the sharing of technical information, including obligations imposed in respect of the disclosure of current and future electronic communications network planning activities;
(f)contractual dispute-resolution procedures;
(g)billing and settlement procedures;
(h)interconnection services such as support systems, calling line identification, signalling services, supervision, functionality, unbundling of interconnection services, fault reporting, co-operation in the event of faults and collocation;
(i)access and security arrangements;
(j)the framework for determining technical and economic feasibility and promotion of efficient use of the electronic communications networks and provision of services contemplated in section 37(3);

[Section 38(3)(j) substituted by section 20(b) of the Electronic Communications Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 1 of 2014)]

(k)the requirement that a licensee negotiate and enter into an interconnection agreement with an applicant for an individual licence or registrant of a class licence; and

[Section 38(3)(k) substituted by section 20(c) of the Electronic Communications Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 1 of 2014)]

(l)the manner in which interconnection services are to be unbundled and made separately available by licensees.

 

(4)Where the regulations require negotiations with an applicant as contemplated in subsection (3)(k), reference in this Chapter to a licensee seeking to interconnect must be considered to include a reference to an applicant.

 

(5)The interconnection regulations may include a framework for the exemption (in whole or in part) of licensees that have less than 25% market share from the obligation to interconnect under section 37(1).

[Section 38(5) substituted by section 20(d) of the Electronic Communications Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 1 of 2014)]

 

(6)Where a licensee is exempt from the obligation to interconnect in terms of subsection (5) and such exempted licensee enters into an interconnection agreement with another exempted licensee, or a person providing services pursuant to a licence exemption, sections 37(6) and 39(2) do not apply to such an interconnection agreement.

[Section 38(6) substituted by section 20(d) of the Electronic Communications Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 1 of 2014)]