PEOPLE will be able to take up a six-month cellphone contract within two months
PEOPLE will be able to take up a six-month cellphone contract within two months, when a regulation by the Independent Communications Authority of SA comes into effect.
Icasa spokesman Sekgoela Sekgoela said the move was to protect consumers and allow for more flexibility in choosing a package.
“We consulted cellular operators and allowed them to make presentations but we set regulations with consumers in mind.
“People don’t want to be tied into long contracts. We specified that operators provide clarity on how much of the package price goes to handsets and how much to services,” Sekgoela said.
The regulation comes into effect on August 17.
Shameel Joosub, managing director of Vodacom SA, said: “It is encouraging that the regulations appear not to restrict subsidies in terms of handsets. But certain aspects are unclear and confusing, and there are new regulations on which Vodacom has not been consulted.”
Cell C is the only operator unaffected. It already has one month and month-to-month options.
Nadia Bulbulia, Cell C’s head of regulatory affairs, said: “Regulations might support mobile number portability as consumers will be aware of penalties and amounts outstanding on contracts if they change networks.”
MyBroadband.co.za
