BT awarded full telecommunications licence in South Africa

BT announced today that it has been awarded both individual Electronic Communications Services (i-ECS) and Electronic Communication Network Services (i-ECNS) licenses in South Africa, paving the way for the company to broaden the range of networked IT services it provides in the country.

The i-ECNS license provides similar provisioning rights as presently held by local telecommunications incumbents and the major local mobile operators. This development is part of the broader opening up of the telecommunications market with several Value Added Network Services (VANS) operators receiving licenses.

Keith Matthews, country manager, BT South Africa, said “Awarding of the licenses represents another milestone for BT in South Africa. The new licenses will allow us to further expand our portfolio and offer a comprehensive set of networked IT services to our existing and new customers.”

BT has been operating in the South African market with a Value Added Network Services (VANS) license. Last year, under pressure from the key players in the telecommunications sector the Telecommunications Regulator Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) decided to convert the VANS licenses into individual i-ECNS and i-ECS licenses.

“This year has already been designated as the “year of bandwidth” in South Africa as the telecommunications market deregulates. We welcome this new opportunity to deliver the full spectrum of our global know-how and technologies to this important market,” added Matthews.