Some who are cynical might say that this is the way things go in this country. Yet for others who are concerned about the threat to marginalized communities and diversity may be horrified.
If you do a bit of digging on the internet and read some of the court cases brought to ICASA, it makes you wonder what the role is of this communications authority.
Do they have an agenda?
Is it their role to trip up small broadcasters who operate on a shoestring and shut them down?
There’s a lot of unfairness in society and in our private lives, and to have to deal with this is not easy.
Over the years, many radio stations, and I’m talking about terrestrial radio stations, have been shut down by the authorities. Once there was a flourishing of community radio stations and they were encouraged, but now even in the smallest of informal communities where the radio is an important source of information for residents, the loss is felt the greatest.
Some people may say that a radio station going onto a digital platform is great. It doesn’t need to obtain a license. However, the problem is the cost of data. Data costs are very, very high in this country. There are only four main operators who can provide signal. They share their revenue with the giant internet companies. Even this year, MTN, without warning, jacked up their data prices by 20%. That is 20% in one year. For goodness sake, for what reason?
For pensioners, it’s not that viable to listen to radio stations online unless they have a benefactor of sorts. Where they live, there might be free data. There might be a fibre network. Perhaps their children provide them with data. But for most pensioners, it’s a lot cheaper to listen to the radio for free.
Now, the latest radio station to bite the dust is Zone Radio in the small suburb of Fish Hoek in Cape Town. Its license has been cancelled by ICASA. They are obviously going to put up a fight, but we shall have to wait and see whether they will be successful. It is a sad reflection on this society that it is squashing voices of diversity and particularly at a community level.
For further reading:
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has been shutting down several community radio stations for a few key reasons. The primary issue is non-compliance with broadcasting regulations, particularly the lack of required broadcasting licenses. ICASA has emphasized that these closures are a last resort after repeated instances of non-compliance and efforts to get the stations to remedy their licensing issues oai_citation:1,Ministers to hold urgent meeting over shutdown of community radio stations | The Citizen oai_citation:2,Community radio stations fight to stay on air | The Journalist.
However, the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) and other advocacy groups have raised concerns about ICASA’s approach. They argue that ICASA has not always followed its own procedures for helping stations become compliant and has sometimes acted without proper notice or support, which has caused significant disruption to the community media sector oai_citation:3,Community radio stations fight to stay on air | The Journalist.
Furthermore, the sector is facing additional challenges such as financial instability and the burden of signal distribution fees owed to Sentech, a state-owned signal distributor. There have also been calls for the government to fulfill its commitments to support community media, including the promise to allocate 30% of its advertising spend to these stations oai_citation:4,ICASA must do more before shutting down radio stations – R2K – POLITICS | Politicsweb oai_citation:5,Community radio stations fight to stay on air | The Journalist.
These shutdowns are seen as a threat to media diversity and access, particularly for marginalized communities that rely on community radio as a vital source of information and a platform for their voices.
Reasons for high data costs in South Africa
High data costs in South Africa are primarily due to several factors:
- Limited Spectrum Availability: The South African government has been slow in allocating new spectrum to mobile operators, which limits their ability to expand and improve their networks efficiently. This scarcity drives up costs as operators invest heavily in infrastructure to optimize the limited spectrum they have oai_citation:1,Africa’s economy is suffering from high mobile data costs | World Economic Forum oai_citation:2,Connectivity in South Africa: the numbers you need to know.
- Market Structure: The mobile telecom market in South Africa is dominated by a few major operators, creating an oligopolistic environment. This lack of significant competition allows these operators to keep prices high oai_citation:3,Africa’s economy is suffering from high mobile data costs | World Economic Forum.
- High Operational Costs: The costs of building and maintaining telecom infrastructure in South Africa are high. This includes expenses related to power, security, and the extensive geography that needs coverage. These operational costs are passed on to consumers in the form of higher data prices oai_citation:4,Africa’s economy is suffering from high mobile data costs | World Economic Forum oai_citation:5,Connectivity in South Africa: the numbers you need to know.
- Regulatory and Licensing Fees: High regulatory and licensing fees imposed by the government add to the overall costs for mobile operators. Reducing these fees could incentivize operators to lower their prices oai_citation:6,Africa’s economy is suffering from high mobile data costs | World Economic Forum.
- Economic Factors: South Africa’s broader economic challenges, including high unemployment and inequality, also play a role. The higher costs of living and doing business contribute to the elevated prices of mobile data oai_citation:7,Connectivity in South Africa: the numbers you need to know.
Addressing these issues would require regulatory reforms, increased competition, and investment in infrastructure to make data more affordable and accessible to all South Africans.
Disclaimer:
I have no personal interest whatsoever in the radio broadcasting industry. This piece is solely an opinion article intended to provide perspective on the current situation involving terrestrial radio broadcasting in South Africa. My intention is to offer an objective viewpoint based on available information and to contribute to the public discourse surrounding this issue.
Experienced Writing Coach Available
Are you looking to improve your writing? As a seasoned writer and coach, I have helped many individuals write more effectively. My rates are reasonable, and I am dedicated to helping you achieve your writing goals. Contact me today for personalized assistance.
