Elements for an Effective Regulator – Eswatini Communications Commission

The Eswatini Communications Commission is the regulatory body responsible for regulating the communications sector in Eswatini, constituting of telecommunication services and networks, broadcasting services, postal services and the use and allocation of radio spectrum. It derives its mandate from the Swaziland Communications Commission Act no. 10 of 2013.

The Commission became operational on the 31st July 2013, effectively taking over all the regulatory powers of the sector from the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) and Eswatini Television Authority (Eswatini TV).

The aim of a regulator is to ensure that the sector is working properly, and that consumer and other stakeholder interests are protected in a fair and balanced manner. An effective regulator is the vehicle to ensure credible market entry, as well as compliance with and enforcement of existing regulations. To achieve this, governments must create and maintain an environment conducive to good governance and regulatory success. Independence is a critical attribute for a regulator to be effective. Effectiveness, however, has additional dimensions. In a broad sense, an effective regulator is structurally and financially independent, but the real effectiveness of the regulator will depend on how it achieves successful functionality, ideally in an independent and autonomous manner. In addition, an effective regulator should demonstrate other characteristics, including accountability, transparency and predictability

Goals of Regulation

To transit to an effective, competitive environment, regulatory reform must include measures aimed at:

1. creating functional regulators to oversee the introduction of competition;
2. preparing the incumbent operator to face competition (e.g. deadlines for market exclusivities);
3. allocating and managing scarce resources in a non-discriminatory way;
4. expanding and enhancing access to telecommunications and ICT networks and services;
5. promoting and protecting consumer interests, including universal access and privacy

Below are types of our regulations available in pdf documents;

1. Consumer Protection Regulations
2. Cryptography Regulations
3. Domain Name Administration Regulations
4. Facilities Sharing Regulations
5. Importation, Type Approval and Distribution of Communications Equipment Regulations
6. Interconnection Regulations
7. Licencing Regulations
8. Numbering Regulations
9. Quality of Service Regulations
10. Radio Communication and Frequency Spectrum Regulations
11. Subscriber Registration Regulations
12. Universal Service and Access Regulations