New policy direction targets South Africa’s municipal broadband logjam

South Africa's Communications Minister Solly Malatsi has published a draft policy direction instructing regulator Icasa to overhaul decade-old facilities leasing regulations and create new rapid deployment regulations. The move targets the fragmented municipal permitting processes that have long delayed broadband infrastructure rollouts, with each municipality currently applying different procedures and fees. Key proposals include standardising access rights, defining 'essential facilities', discouraging unnecessary infrastructure duplication, and establishing a centralised GIS database of network infrastructure. The direction builds on a 2016 white paper and 2023 national policy, and is part of the broader Operation Vulindlela economic reform programme.