South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has launched two market inquiries examining the country’s evolving communications landscape: one focused on over-the-top (OTT) services and another on the affordability of telecommunications services.
The OTT inquiry will assess how streaming, messaging and other digital platforms are affecting companies regulated under South African law, particularly licensees in the telecommunications, broadcasting and postal sectors.
ICASA’s 2026/2027 Annual Performance Plan highlighted the growing impact of OTT platforms such as Netflix and WhatsApp, noting that their rise has disrupted traditional broadcasting and intensified competition for audiences and advertising revenue. The regulator said the inquiry would help establish the impact of OTT broadcasting services on existing licensees and relevant markets.
The inquiry comes amid growing debate among South Africa’s major telecommunications operators over the costs associated with rising network traffic. Operators have argued that large OTT platforms should contribute towards network costs, given the significant volumes of traffic they generate and the substantial investment required to build, maintain and upgrade telecommunications infrastructure.
Each inquiry will follow a four-phase process. The first phase involves publishing notices and questionnaires, with interested parties given ten working days to submit clarification questions and 45 working days to provide written responses. A discussion document and further submissions will follow in the second phase, with public hearings potentially taking place during the third phase. ICASA will publish its final findings in the Government Gazette during the fourth phase.
Importantly, ICASA has not announced any new taxes, charges or regulations targeting Netflix, Amazon, WhatsApp or other OTT platforms as part of the inquiries.
OTT telecommunications and media services such as WhatsApp and Netflix have fundamentally changed how consumers communicate, access content and engage with media. Their growth has challenged traditional business models and raised new questions for operators, broadcasters and regulators.
ICASA’s inquiries could therefore play an important role in shaping South Africa’s future approach to OTT regulation. They also contribute to the broader international debate over whether traditional telecommunications and media companies and large digital platforms should operate under a more level regulatory and economic playing field.
