The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has announced four new regulations to end-user and subscriber services charters at a briefing in Johannesburg. 

Icasa said that, while the regulations do not seek to directly or indirectly regulate costs, they improve regulations around data, sms and voice services.

They are: 

• Service providers must notify users when their data falls below  50%, 80% and 100%. "This will enable consumers to monitor their usage and control spend on communication services," said Icasa. 
• Users will now be allowed to carry over unused data to next month, said Icasa. All licensees are required to provide this option. 
• It expects all network providers to allow consumers to transfer data to other users on the same network. 
• Service providers will no longer be allowed to charge consumers out-of-bundle rates when data has run out without the consumers' specific prior consent. 

"After the regulations are published, service providers will be given a month comply", said Icasa CEO Wellington Ngwepe. The regulations have not yet been gazetted.