ECA comes alive

History has been made: Icasa has finally converted telecoms licences

HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE: telecommunications regulator Icasa has finally converted the licences of the incumbent telecoms operators and service providers, effectively breathing life into the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) for the first time.

Some value-added network services (Vans) licensees had feared Icasa wouldn't meet its self-imposed August deadline to issue them with their new licences, but the regulator confirmed late last week the "ink was just drying" on their new licences and they would be formally issued over the next few days.

The incumbent operators will be known as Electronic Communication Network Service (ECNS) licensees, while the Vans automatically become the Electronic Communication Service (ECS) licensees. Those countrywide in scope will have "individual" ECNS or ECS licences, while those more local in nature will be "class" licensees.

Myadsl