MVNOs take centre stage in legislative shake-up

South Africa's parliament has accepted an updated Electronic Communications Amendment Bill that places MVNOs at the center of proposed legislative changes. The bill aims to address discriminatory practices by mobile network operators (MNOs), ensure fair pricing, and expand the types of MVNOs allowed to operate locally — moving beyond the current reseller-only model toward a multi-tier framework similar to Nigeria's. The MVNO sector has grown significantly since the 2022 spectrum auction, with nearly 30 MVNOs now active. Other areas covered include new licensing for infrastructure providers, spectrum sharing, and Icasa's market review powers. Industry voices call for a broader overhaul of the Electronic Communications Act, which dates to 2002, to better reflect modern technological realities.