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New marketing opportunities for fixed line telecommunication operators in South Africa : a strategic evaluationAli, Fuaad 09 1900 (has links)
Information, communication and broadcasting convergence is changing the business landscape
in South Africa, as organisations adopt new converged information, communication technology
(ICT) products and services to satisfy the needs of customers. Simultaneously, major changes are
taking place in the South African telecommunications business environment creating new
marketing opportunities and threats for Telkom SA, the only fixed line telecommunication
operator in South Africa.
Some of the findings of the study are
• the commodization of the fixed line telecommunication network
• political and regulatory changes are reshaping the telecommunications landscape by allowing
the entry of new competitors
• new technological innovations in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and mobile
communication is driving change
• social and economic change is fueling the speed of environmental change
poor economic climate is quickening the competitive pace amongst South African businesses
forcing them to attain efficiencies and effectiveness for survival
• organisations worldwide are competing for limited resources and markets and turning to ICT
to achieve their objectives
• customer needs are changing - demanding better and innovative communication products and
services - providing opportunities to competitors
• the Internet is reshaping traditional business models as businesses are seeking to establish
competitive advantages through the Internet
• the migration of the Internet to the mobile telephony sector
These changes are creating new marketing opportunities and threats for South African fixed line
telecommunication operators and are threatening the survival of fixed line telecommunication
operators worldwide and in South Africa. Information Technology, broadcasting and
telecommunication technology convergence, has created many new ICT products and services
opportunities that telecommunication competitors are offering existing customers of the fixed
line operators network indicating lethargy from their side. In order for the fixed line operators to
survive they must apply innovation and revise their strategic planning models. / Business Management / DCOM (Business Management)
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Legal and regulatory aspects of mobile financial servicesPerlman, Leon Joseph 11 1900 (has links)
The thesis deals with the emergence of bank and non-bank entities that provide a range of unique
transaction-based payment services broadly called Mobile Financial Services (MFS) to unbanked,
underserved and underbanked persons via mobile phones.
Models of MFS from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), banks, combinations of MNOs and banks, and
independent Mobile Financial Services Providers are covered. Provision by non-banks of ‘bank-type’
services via mobile phones has been termed ‘transformational banking’ versus the ‘additive banking’
services from banks. All involve the concept of ‘branchless banking’ whereby ‘cash-in/cash out’ services
are provided through ‘agents.’
Funds for MFS payments may available through a Stored Value Product (SVP), particularly through a
Stored Value Account SVP variant offered by MNOs where value is stored as a redeemable fiat- or mobile
‘airtime’-based Store of Value.
The competitive, legal, technical and regulatory nature of non-bank versus bank MFS models is discussed,
in particular the impact of banking, payments, money laundering, telecommunications, e-commerce and
consumer protection laws. Whether funding mechanisms for SVPs may amount to deposit-taking such that
entities could be engaged in the ‘business of banking’ is discussed. The continued use of ‘deposit’ as the
traditional trigger for the ‘business of banking’ is investigated, alongside whether transaction and paymentcentric
MFS rises to the ‘business of banking.’
An extensive evaluation of ‘money’ based on the Orthodox and Claim School economic theories is
undertaken in relation to SVPs used in MFS, their legal associations and import, and whether they may be
deemed ‘money’ in law.
Consumer protection for MFS and payments generally through current statute, contract, and payment law
and common law condictiones are found to be wanting. Possible regulatory arbitrage in relation to MFS in
South African law is discussed.
The legal and regulatory regimes in the European Union, Kenya and the United States of America are
compared with South Africa. The need for a coordinated payments-specific law that has consumer
protections, enables proportional risk-based licensing of new non-bank providers of MFS, and allows for a
regulator for retail payments is recommended. The use of trust companies and trust accounts is
recommended for protection of user funds.
| vi / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LLD
|
23 |
Legal and regulatory aspects of mobile financial servicesPerlman, Leon Joseph 11 1900 (has links)
The thesis deals with the emergence of bank and non-bank entities that provide a range of unique
transaction-based payment services broadly called Mobile Financial Services (MFS) to unbanked,
underserved and underbanked persons via mobile phones.
Models of MFS from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), banks, combinations of MNOs and banks, and
independent Mobile Financial Services Providers are covered. Provision by non-banks of ‘bank-type’
services via mobile phones has been termed ‘transformational banking’ versus the ‘additive banking’
services from banks. All involve the concept of ‘branchless banking’ whereby ‘cash-in/cash out’ services
are provided through ‘agents.’
Funds for MFS payments may available through a Stored Value Product (SVP), particularly through a
Stored Value Account SVP variant offered by MNOs where value is stored as a redeemable fiat- or mobile
‘airtime’-based Store of Value.
The competitive, legal, technical and regulatory nature of non-bank versus bank MFS models is discussed,
in particular the impact of banking, payments, money laundering, telecommunications, e-commerce and
consumer protection laws. Whether funding mechanisms for SVPs may amount to deposit-taking such that
entities could be engaged in the ‘business of banking’ is discussed. The continued use of ‘deposit’ as the
traditional trigger for the ‘business of banking’ is investigated, alongside whether transaction and paymentcentric
MFS rises to the ‘business of banking.’
An extensive evaluation of ‘money’ based on the Orthodox and Claim School economic theories is
undertaken in relation to SVPs used in MFS, their legal associations and import, and whether they may be
deemed ‘money’ in law.
Consumer protection for MFS and payments generally through current statute, contract, and payment law
and common law condictiones are found to be wanting. Possible regulatory arbitrage in relation to MFS in
South African law is discussed.
The legal and regulatory regimes in the European Union, Kenya and the United States of America are
compared with South Africa. The need for a coordinated payments-specific law that has consumer
protections, enables proportional risk-based licensing of new non-bank providers of MFS, and allows for a
regulator for retail payments is recommended. The use of trust companies and trust accounts is
recommended for protection of user funds.
| vi / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LL. D.
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