Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005)ICASAThe ICT COVID-19 National State of Disaster Regulations, 20212. Purpose |
The purpose of these Regulations is to prescribe minimum standards that Licensees must adhere to during the National State of Disaster which was declared on 15 March 2020 in order to—
| (a) | facilitate dissemination of information through electronic communication network services and electronic communication services, and ease network congestion that may arise as a consequence of the National State of Disaster that was occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of South Africa; |
| (b) | enable the facilitation, through enhanced network capacity, of swift and rapid national response to the National State of Disaster and assist in post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation; |
| (c) | enable implementation of measures that may be necessary to prevent an escalation of the National State of Disaster or to alleviate, contain and minimise the effects of the National State of Disaster that have been or likely to be occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic; |
| (d) | ensure that there is continuation of the provision of services in the Republic; |
| (e) | correct the imbalances created by the assignment of the temporary radio frequency spectrum made in April 2020 in terms of the 2020 Regulations; |
| (f) | promote competition within the ICT sector with respect to the assignment of provisional spectrum; |
| (g) | promote the universal provision of electronic communications networks and electronic communications services and connectivity for all; and |
| (h) | ensure efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum. |