3RD Cellular Licence Granted in South Africa

16 th February, 2001

The South African Minister of Communications , Dr Ivy Matsepe- Casaburri has granted the 3rd cellular licence to Cell C ( Proprietary) Ltd.

In her statement on the decision to grant the licence, the Minister reviewed the background to the feasibility of providing additional mobile cellular telecommunications services carried out under an official enquiry published on 31 July, 1998.

Subsequently, invitations for a third mobile cellular telecommunications service licence were issued in February 1999. A total of seven bids were received.

Following evaluation of the bids by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), Cell C (Proprietary) Ltd., emerged as the winner.