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COMMUNICATIONS: TWO UNIVERSAL ACCESS DISCUSSION DOCUMENTS OUT FOR COMMENT
- 01 October 2026
- Communications & Digital Technologies
- SA Legal Academy
The Universal Service & Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) has gazetted and called for input by 30 October 2026 on two discussion documents:
- universal access and universal service, and
- categories of needy persons, subsidy applications and payment modalities.
This is noting that:
- regarding universal access:
- according to section 1 of the 2005 Electronic Communications Act, the term ‘universal access’ refers to the universal provision of:
- electronic communications network services
- electronic communications services, and
- broadcasting services
- the Act’s sub-section 82(3)(a) requires USAASA to make recommendations enabling the Minister to determine what constitutes each service category
- such recommendations are made ‘from time to time, with due regard to prevailing circumstances and attitudes and after obtaining public participation to the greatest degree practicable’, and that
- the last ministerial determination was published in 2010
- according to section 1 of the 2005 Electronic Communications Act, the term ‘universal access’ refers to the universal provision of:
- regarding subsides for needy people:
- the Act’s sub-section 88(4) requires USAASA to make recommendations enabling the Minister to determine:
- ‘the types of needy persons to whom assistance may be given’
- ‘persons who must apply for assistance’ and
- ‘persons to whom subsidies may be paid’.
- the Act’s sub-section 88(4) requires USAASA to make recommendations enabling the Minister to determine:
In the context of subsidies for needy persons, the discussion document concerned also explores the most suitable, user-friendly manner in which applications for assistance might be made and subsidies paid securely. This is noting developments related to a long-promised digital terrestrial television switchover and the availability of free set-top boxes.
Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch
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