ITWeb (Johannesburg)
Stuart Lowman
21 April 2005
Johannesburg — Underserviced area licensees (USALs) will be the catalyst for economic development in the 'second economy' we all worry about, says communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.
Matsepe-Casaburri was speaking at the signing of an agreement between Vodacom and five USALs in Midrand last night.
Vodacom entered into an agreement with Bokamosa Consortium, Karabotel, Bokone Telecomms, Amatole Telecomms and Kingdom Communications, engaging the USALs as independent licensed telecommunications operators in the industry.
"This initiative entrenches the indispensable role cellular technology can play in empowering ordinary people to not only communicate with the outside world, but possibly to become economically active as well," says Shameel Joosub, MD of Vodacom.
In terms of the agreement, Vodacom will provide a regional roaming service enabling USAL customers to make and receive calls and SMSes within the USAL's licensed area using the Vodacom network.
"Even though some of the USALs have opted not to initially build their own networks, they will develop and sell their own services, under their own brand at their own retail tariffs," says Joosub.
"USALs will be able to move their customers off the Vodacom network and services over time, as and when the USALs construct their own network infrastructure."
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