So far the operators have carried the burden of providing alternative power supplies to avoid network outages
South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is considering regulatory steps to help telcos address load shedding. This is the term used to describe the frequent, widespread power cuts across the country.
ICASA is to carry out a survey on the impact of load-shedding on the ICT sector, a pillar of the country’s digital infrastructure and economy.
Mobile operators, and especially MTN and Vodacom, have invested billions of rands to keep their networks functioning despite the outages. And in fact during blackouts, the demand for data surges.
South Africa’s Sunday Times says the survey will probably be followed by an inquiry and possibly new regulations aimed at easing operators’ the burden regarding loadshedding.
The problem is so severe that last June, MTN in South Africa announced it would become an independent power producer, using multiple technologies. They range from solar to gas and battery energy systems, at one plant at its headquarters in Fairlands, Johannesburg.