......I think the following info is worth reading in re to interconnection fees
.........................................................
Lower interconnect fees benefit consumers
From 1 March, the rates will drop from 40c to 20c, and then to 15c by March 2015, says Mitchell Barker, MD of WhichVoIP.
http://www.itweb.co.za/logos/whichVoIP_logo.gif
Press release issued by Exposure
Johannesburg, 17 Feb 2014
Following months of talks between the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the telecoms industry, the regulator announced that mobile termination rates in South Africa would drop significantly.
"ICASA said the move aims to stimulate economic growth, and this can only be good news for consumers," says Mitchell Barker, MD of WhichVoIP. "The rates are on a downhill slide – from 1 March, the rates will drop from 40c to 20c, and then to 15c by March 2015. In 2016, they will reach an all-time low of 10c. This should put some money back in the pockets of South Africans."
Barker describes termination rates, or interconnect fees, as the prices that mobile telephone operators charge other network operators to terminate calls on their network. "For many years, interconnect fees have been a contentious issue, as there has been no standard method for charging interconnect fees among countries."
See also
Spectrum is key
ICASA licensing explained
WhichVoIP.co.za
ICASA
He says some regions have only regulated interconnect fees for fixed-to-mobile calls, and others have had mobile networks have to apply a single regulated termination charge no matter where the call originates. "Ultimately, financial and technical deals among service providers are there to govern how they connect their networks, services and equipment to allow their customers access to those of other providers."
Interconnection, explains Barker, is vital to widening both the scope and efficiency of telecommunications in any country. "This is particularly true for operators wishing to enter a new market, who will piggyback on the existing facilities of another operator. In this way, it is also core to having a competitive market structure."
Barker says interconnect fees have been high in the past, and many customers do not understand what exactly they are paying for. "Over and above fees for collecting and delivering calls, the customer is also paying, albeit indirectly, for the installation, maintenance and operation of the points of interconnect, and for additional services which could include fault reporting, network assistance, billing, directory enquiries and suchlike."
He says South Africa has followed the most common interconnection set-up – a ‘calling party network pays' (CPNP), where the originating service provider pays a per-minute charge to the operator that terminates the traffic being exchanged.
Speaking of some of the benefits of lowered interconnect rates, Barker says consumers are unlikely to see a benefit straight away, as the difference in call charges will be marginal. In addition, as the larger networks are still being stung by heavy fees, they won't be able to pass on the savings to their customers.
"The smaller networks, Cell C and Telkom Mobile, that are benefiting by paying less than their larger counterparts, are likely to use the money saved to improve and grow their infrastructure," he adds.
However, by 2016, when the interconnect rates reach 10c, consumers are likely to see the difference in the prices of calls, he says. Over and above the benefits to consumers, Barker says these lowered fees will benefit the country, particularly as it will encourage more firms to enter the market. "Moreover, the transparency will allow consumers to compare the different charges, and change service providers should they so wish."
Ultimately, for the consumer it's about value for money and good service. "ICASA's move will benefit the end-user, who will be able to make a more educated choice when selecting an operator. Healthy competition can only benefit the market and ensure better service. This in turn will boost economic growth, and create opportunities."
www.whichvoip.co.za
WhichVoIP.co.za presents a central view of all the credible VOIP, hosted PBX, and wireless connectivity operators in South Africa, taking the guess-work out of who is offering what in the local market. Completely independent and free to all users, WhichVoIP is the premium one-stop information portal for VOIP, hosted PBX, and connectivity in South Africa.
Those looking to understand and learn more about VOIP and hosted PBX, and get all the latest news in the industry, need look no further than WhichVoIP.co.za's focused forum, blogs, articles, and technical FAQ section.
This research and comparison Web site allows users to extract research on various VOIP, hosted PBX, and connectivity providers, comparing these providers in a side-by-side format, as well as browse a comprehensive directory of credible carriers, providers, resellers, PBX partners, telecoms consultants, and support organisations.
http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_c...p;id=70906
...................................................................................
ICASA licensing explained
http://www.itweb.co.za/logos/whichVoIP_logo.gif
Press release issued by Exposure
Johannesburg, 25 Nov 2013
When a telecommunications company wants to set up shop and operate in South Africa to provide Internet and telephony services to consumers, it needs to acquire specific licences from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), which handles all the regulation for the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors in the country. This rule applies to voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) providers as well.
"The licences for electronic communications are issued under the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) and the available service licences can basically be divided into two categories: Electronic Communications Network Service (ECNS) licences, and Electronic Communications Service (ECS)," explains Mitchell Barker, CEO of WhichVoIP.co.za, a directory site featuring a comprehensive list of VOIP providers in South Africa.
"An ECNS licence allows a company to deploy and operate a physical network. It doesn't matter whether the network infrastructure consists of fibre-optic cables, copper-based lines, switches, or even radio equipment for running a wireless network. An ECS licence is mostly for providers only, as it enables its holders to provide electronic communications services to customers over its own or via another company's network."
See also
Quality of service and VOIP in SA
One portal, two clicks, three minutes
WhichVoIP.co.za
www.whichvoip.co.za
Using South Africa's major fixed-line operator, Telkom, as an example to highlight the differences between the two, Ellipsis – a niche consultancy providing specialist regulatory and compliance advice to the electronic communications industry – says since Telkom has an extensive telephone and voice network which covers most of South Africa, the operator needs an ECNS to licence that infrastructure. In conjunction with that, it also needs an ECS licence to provide voice and Internet services to consumers. On the other hand, Internet service providers and even VOIP providers which might own some of their own hardware, but which mainly make use of and rely on other companies' networks to provide their services, only require an ECS licence.
Those licences are then further divided into two subcategories each: the Individual ECNS (IECNS), which allows holders to roll-out their own networks across a province or the entire country, and the Class ECNS (CECNS) for rolling out a network in a district or local municipality, allowing holders to provide services to consumers in that area.
ECS is also subcategorised to Individual ECS (IECS) for providing services to customers over an ECNS licensee's network. "This is the kind of licence used by VOIP providers providing their customers with numbers taken from the National Numbering Plan," Barker explains. "It can also be used by ISPs for providing services such as Internet access, e-mail and virtual private networks (VPNs)."
The second subcategory is the Class ECS (CECS) licence, which allows providers to offer all of the same services offered by IECS holders, except for voice services that require numbers from the National Numbering Plan. IECNS and IECS licences are issued for 20 years, and Class ECNS and ECS licences are issued for 10 years and are renewable by paying an annual renewal fee.
ICASA recently hiked up the fees for those licences, a move which has many telecommunications providers up in arms, with some complaining it will prevent them from being able to continue running their businesses, and saying it will have a adverse effect on broadband in South Africa.
"From the first of April this year, the regulator changed the methods by which annual licence fee renewals are calculated. Before, service providers were allowed to determine and deduct costs based on a fixed percentage of the company's revenue fee, but now the fee is based on a licence holder's overall revenue," Barker says. "Many of the companies assure consumers that the fee hike will not affect their retail prices and will therefore not be passed onto consumers."
Barker warns that ICASA has been cracking down on companies that have defaulted on paying their licence fees. "In April, after accusing Gauteng-based telecommunications company Broadlink of owing them millions of rands in outstanding licence fees, ICASA shut down the transmissions equipment at Wireless Business Solutions (WBS) Holdings, Broadlink's parent company, resulting in 75% of Broadlink's network being kicked offline. Apart from creating a major inconvenience, having you and your clients' connections severed also creates major loss of revenue, so it is advisable that you pay up, renew your licences annually and not fall into arrears."
http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_c...-explained
.................................................................................................
The South African market has been largely regulated by the incumbent providers. Since the opening up of this regulation, the industry allows any company with a valid Network License to build, manage and inter-connect with other carrier networks - to exchange voice and data traffic by using any IP connectivity medium such as Fibre, Diginet, and Wireless. In short this means that your business can get the benefit of a complete connectivity solution from an alternate network provider who may have no reliance on the incumbent providers. For Voice, it's just like having a normal line from Telkom - but Virtual! For Data, you are likely to enjoy increased speed and in the case of Wireless connectivity - a service that may just be a little bit more stable and reliable!
http://www.whichvoip.co.za/
Currently there are over 800 companies registered and licensed by ICASA to provide alternate voice and connectivity services to South African businesses. This number does not include the various resellers, affiliates, providers and consulting partners. We can easily quad-triple this number in different identities in the market are offering diverse solutions and technologies.
http://www.whichvoip.co.za/directory
NEWS
http://www.whichvoip.co.za/forum/v2
.............................................................................
......I imagine N Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan......operate in a similar fashion.......think the above also helps w/fee structure(s) and what's involved.
GLTA
.........................................................
Lower interconnect fees benefit consumers
From 1 March, the rates will drop from 40c to 20c, and then to 15c by March 2015, says Mitchell Barker, MD of WhichVoIP.
http://www.itweb.co.za/logos/whichVoIP_logo.gif
Press release issued by Exposure
Johannesburg, 17 Feb 2014
Following months of talks between the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the telecoms industry, the regulator announced that mobile termination rates in South Africa would drop significantly.
"ICASA said the move aims to stimulate economic growth, and this can only be good news for consumers," says Mitchell Barker, MD of WhichVoIP. "The rates are on a downhill slide – from 1 March, the rates will drop from 40c to 20c, and then to 15c by March 2015. In 2016, they will reach an all-time low of 10c. This should put some money back in the pockets of South Africans."
Barker describes termination rates, or interconnect fees, as the prices that mobile telephone operators charge other network operators to terminate calls on their network. "For many years, interconnect fees have been a contentious issue, as there has been no standard method for charging interconnect fees among countries."
See also
Spectrum is key
ICASA licensing explained
WhichVoIP.co.za
ICASA
He says some regions have only regulated interconnect fees for fixed-to-mobile calls, and others have had mobile networks have to apply a single regulated termination charge no matter where the call originates. "Ultimately, financial and technical deals among service providers are there to govern how they connect their networks, services and equipment to allow their customers access to those of other providers."
Interconnection, explains Barker, is vital to widening both the scope and efficiency of telecommunications in any country. "This is particularly true for operators wishing to enter a new market, who will piggyback on the existing facilities of another operator. In this way, it is also core to having a competitive market structure."
Barker says interconnect fees have been high in the past, and many customers do not understand what exactly they are paying for. "Over and above fees for collecting and delivering calls, the customer is also paying, albeit indirectly, for the installation, maintenance and operation of the points of interconnect, and for additional services which could include fault reporting, network assistance, billing, directory enquiries and suchlike."
He says South Africa has followed the most common interconnection set-up – a ‘calling party network pays' (CPNP), where the originating service provider pays a per-minute charge to the operator that terminates the traffic being exchanged.
Speaking of some of the benefits of lowered interconnect rates, Barker says consumers are unlikely to see a benefit straight away, as the difference in call charges will be marginal. In addition, as the larger networks are still being stung by heavy fees, they won't be able to pass on the savings to their customers.
"The smaller networks, Cell C and Telkom Mobile, that are benefiting by paying less than their larger counterparts, are likely to use the money saved to improve and grow their infrastructure," he adds.
However, by 2016, when the interconnect rates reach 10c, consumers are likely to see the difference in the prices of calls, he says. Over and above the benefits to consumers, Barker says these lowered fees will benefit the country, particularly as it will encourage more firms to enter the market. "Moreover, the transparency will allow consumers to compare the different charges, and change service providers should they so wish."
Ultimately, for the consumer it's about value for money and good service. "ICASA's move will benefit the end-user, who will be able to make a more educated choice when selecting an operator. Healthy competition can only benefit the market and ensure better service. This in turn will boost economic growth, and create opportunities."
www.whichvoip.co.za
WhichVoIP.co.za presents a central view of all the credible VOIP, hosted PBX, and wireless connectivity operators in South Africa, taking the guess-work out of who is offering what in the local market. Completely independent and free to all users, WhichVoIP is the premium one-stop information portal for VOIP, hosted PBX, and connectivity in South Africa.
Those looking to understand and learn more about VOIP and hosted PBX, and get all the latest news in the industry, need look no further than WhichVoIP.co.za's focused forum, blogs, articles, and technical FAQ section.
This research and comparison Web site allows users to extract research on various VOIP, hosted PBX, and connectivity providers, comparing these providers in a side-by-side format, as well as browse a comprehensive directory of credible carriers, providers, resellers, PBX partners, telecoms consultants, and support organisations.
http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_c...p;id=70906
...................................................................................
ICASA licensing explained
http://www.itweb.co.za/logos/whichVoIP_logo.gif
Press release issued by Exposure
Johannesburg, 25 Nov 2013
When a telecommunications company wants to set up shop and operate in South Africa to provide Internet and telephony services to consumers, it needs to acquire specific licences from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), which handles all the regulation for the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors in the country. This rule applies to voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) providers as well.
"The licences for electronic communications are issued under the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) and the available service licences can basically be divided into two categories: Electronic Communications Network Service (ECNS) licences, and Electronic Communications Service (ECS)," explains Mitchell Barker, CEO of WhichVoIP.co.za, a directory site featuring a comprehensive list of VOIP providers in South Africa.
"An ECNS licence allows a company to deploy and operate a physical network. It doesn't matter whether the network infrastructure consists of fibre-optic cables, copper-based lines, switches, or even radio equipment for running a wireless network. An ECS licence is mostly for providers only, as it enables its holders to provide electronic communications services to customers over its own or via another company's network."
See also
Quality of service and VOIP in SA
One portal, two clicks, three minutes
WhichVoIP.co.za
www.whichvoip.co.za
Using South Africa's major fixed-line operator, Telkom, as an example to highlight the differences between the two, Ellipsis – a niche consultancy providing specialist regulatory and compliance advice to the electronic communications industry – says since Telkom has an extensive telephone and voice network which covers most of South Africa, the operator needs an ECNS to licence that infrastructure. In conjunction with that, it also needs an ECS licence to provide voice and Internet services to consumers. On the other hand, Internet service providers and even VOIP providers which might own some of their own hardware, but which mainly make use of and rely on other companies' networks to provide their services, only require an ECS licence.
Those licences are then further divided into two subcategories each: the Individual ECNS (IECNS), which allows holders to roll-out their own networks across a province or the entire country, and the Class ECNS (CECNS) for rolling out a network in a district or local municipality, allowing holders to provide services to consumers in that area.
ECS is also subcategorised to Individual ECS (IECS) for providing services to customers over an ECNS licensee's network. "This is the kind of licence used by VOIP providers providing their customers with numbers taken from the National Numbering Plan," Barker explains. "It can also be used by ISPs for providing services such as Internet access, e-mail and virtual private networks (VPNs)."
The second subcategory is the Class ECS (CECS) licence, which allows providers to offer all of the same services offered by IECS holders, except for voice services that require numbers from the National Numbering Plan. IECNS and IECS licences are issued for 20 years, and Class ECNS and ECS licences are issued for 10 years and are renewable by paying an annual renewal fee.
ICASA recently hiked up the fees for those licences, a move which has many telecommunications providers up in arms, with some complaining it will prevent them from being able to continue running their businesses, and saying it will have a adverse effect on broadband in South Africa.
"From the first of April this year, the regulator changed the methods by which annual licence fee renewals are calculated. Before, service providers were allowed to determine and deduct costs based on a fixed percentage of the company's revenue fee, but now the fee is based on a licence holder's overall revenue," Barker says. "Many of the companies assure consumers that the fee hike will not affect their retail prices and will therefore not be passed onto consumers."
Barker warns that ICASA has been cracking down on companies that have defaulted on paying their licence fees. "In April, after accusing Gauteng-based telecommunications company Broadlink of owing them millions of rands in outstanding licence fees, ICASA shut down the transmissions equipment at Wireless Business Solutions (WBS) Holdings, Broadlink's parent company, resulting in 75% of Broadlink's network being kicked offline. Apart from creating a major inconvenience, having you and your clients' connections severed also creates major loss of revenue, so it is advisable that you pay up, renew your licences annually and not fall into arrears."
http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_c...-explained
.................................................................................................
The South African market has been largely regulated by the incumbent providers. Since the opening up of this regulation, the industry allows any company with a valid Network License to build, manage and inter-connect with other carrier networks - to exchange voice and data traffic by using any IP connectivity medium such as Fibre, Diginet, and Wireless. In short this means that your business can get the benefit of a complete connectivity solution from an alternate network provider who may have no reliance on the incumbent providers. For Voice, it's just like having a normal line from Telkom - but Virtual! For Data, you are likely to enjoy increased speed and in the case of Wireless connectivity - a service that may just be a little bit more stable and reliable!
http://www.whichvoip.co.za/
Currently there are over 800 companies registered and licensed by ICASA to provide alternate voice and connectivity services to South African businesses. This number does not include the various resellers, affiliates, providers and consulting partners. We can easily quad-triple this number in different identities in the market are offering diverse solutions and technologies.
http://www.whichvoip.co.za/directory
NEWS
http://www.whichvoip.co.za/forum/v2
.............................................................................
......I imagine N Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan......operate in a similar fashion.......think the above also helps w/fee structure(s) and what's involved.
GLTA
