Parliament extends deadline for public input on Electronic Communications Amendment Bill

The Bill, tabled by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, on 20 April 2026, aims to amend the Electronic Communications Act of 2005. Its objectives include strengthening sector regulation, addressing competition issues, infrastructure rollout, spectrum access, and consumer choice. Key proposals in the Bill involve empowering the Minister responsible for local government to establish a national standard by-law for rapid electronic communications network deployment, introducing a "use it or share it" principle for spectrum, regulating roaming and mobile virtual network operator services, improving the facilities-leasing framework, and setting wholesale pricing rules and competition safeguards.

Committee chairperson Khusela Diko stated that the extension ensures meaningful participation in the parliamentary process. The committee encourages all interested parties, including industry bodies, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens, to submit their input. This Bill is part of the government's effort to modernize South Africa’s communications framework, with public submissions being crucial for the committee's deliberations.