Pretoria – Mobile cellular operators have commended government for helping them in speeding up the RICA process.
The Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA), which came into effect on 1 July 2009 (with the deadline on 30 June 2011), requires the compulsory registration of all SIM cards in use.
During the build up to the deadline, mobile operators, service providers and sellers were required to register the identities, physical addresses and cellular phone numbers of new and existing customers who purchase or have purchased SIM cards.
Vodacom South Africa acting Managing Director, Vuyani Jarana, said he was happy with the progress, made noting that the process has been a long journey, where they invested time engaging with government to ensure that they meet the RICA requirements.
“On our part, we are geared to address issues that are coming through that may highlight that there’s been an element of non-compliance in the trading environment. Part of the action when we meet in the next fortnight will look at how we drive consumer education around the responsibility when you do this transaction, especially when you do not register your SIM card in your own name. We are committed to stamp out any irregularities,” said Jarana.
Cell C Executive Head: Regulatory Affairs, Mothibi Ramusi, said the operator has invested R400 million on marketing and thanked the government for taking part in speeding up the process for consumers to RICA on time.
MTN Chief Corporate Services Officer, Robert Madzonga, said they used the RICA process to their own advantage.
“It has been a costing exercise but there were benefits as well in terms of job creation. We’ve spent about R250 million on the campaign. But more than, that it created 6 000 jobs and also established channels of communications with the government,” Madzonga said.
During the RICA campaign, Cell C registered 99.9 percent of contracts and 97 percent of prepaid subscribers, MTN had registered 99.5 percent of contracts and 97 percent of prepared subscribers whilst Vodacom had 98.98 percent of contracts and 95.12 percent of prepaid subscribers registered. – Gabi Khumalo, BuaNews
