ICASA to review impact of falling termination fees

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) will conclude a study in the next year to determine the effect of the decline termination rates on retail prices, TechCentral reported. Termination rates will reach ZAR 0.40/minute for mobile calls next year and between ZAR 0.12/minute and ZAR 0.19/minute for calls to and between fixed-line networks. Icasa chairman Stephen Mncube said the price cuts have had a definite initial impact of reducing the cost of a telephone call from a fixed line to a mobile phone and reducing the cost of doing business for smaller operators. This has spurred investment and entrepreneurship, stimulating new services, new networks and more opportunities in the technology sector. Mncube says Icasa expects overall reductions in the total cost of communication as operators seek new avenues to provide cost-effective and quality services to end users.