O-Tel launch

O-Tel launched last week as South Africa’s newest licensed national telecoms operator, offering anyone within Telkom ADSL or Vodacom 3G coverage a telephone line for ZAR99 (USD9.98) per month without requiring customers to sign any contracts. O-Tel does not have its own network but instead utilises Telkom’s ADSL network and Vodacom’s 3G network. The company received its individual Electronic Communication Network Services (i-ECNS) licence from the Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) in late January.