The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has handed down a hefty fine and multiple sanctions against local telecommunications company, Session Telecoms Proprietary Limited (Session), following a lengthy investigation into numbering resource abuses.
The regulatory action comes after a formal complaint was lodged by Mobile Telephone Networks Proprietary Limited (MTN) against Session in April 2023.
MTN alleged that Session was misusing numbering resources allocated by the Authority—specifically pointing to activities like Calling Line Identification (CLI) manipulation, call refiling, and SIM-boxing.
These practices are commonly linked to interconnect bypass operations, which disrupt the normal flow of communications.
Background of the Complaint
The matter was thoroughly investigated and adjudicated by the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) under section 17B of the ICASA Act. The hearings and investigative process stretched from September 2023 through to October 2025.
On 18 June 2026, ICASA officially approved the CCC’s findings and recommendations, concluding that Session had indeed contravened the country’s Numbering Plan Regulations.
The Findings and Breaches
The investigation uncovered two specific violations:
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Regulation 6(3)(f): Session was found to be using invalid numbers and numbers that had not been officially allocated to it.
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Regulation 6(3)(g): The company failed to ensure that its allocated numbers were used efficiently and effectively. Furthermore, the probe revealed that communications were not being routed through MTN’s network in a proper manner, which goes against the core principles of managing South Africa’s numbering resources.
Official Response from ICASA
In response to the ruling, ICASA stressed the critical importance of protecting the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure.
“ICASA regards compliance with the Numbering Plan Regulations as essential to maintaining the integrity, efficiency and security of the national numbering system,” says Councillor Mushi, Chairperson of the Numbering Plan Resources Committee.
“Numbering resources are a scarce national asset and must be used responsibly by licensed operators to ensure the reliable delivery of electronic communications services.”
Financial Penalties and Additional Sanctions
When deciding on the punishment, the CCC took into account how long the non-compliance lasted, the potential financial benefits Session gained from its actions, and the company’s failure to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Given the seriousness of these violations, ICASA has imposed significant financial penalties.
The Authority imposes a penalty in terms of Regulation 25 of the Numbering Plan Regulations, being an amount of R3 mMillion for contravention of Regulation 6(3)(f); and R3 million for contravention of Regulation 6(3)(g).
Beyond the combined R6 million fine, ICASA has rolled out a strict compliance regime against Session. The additional sanctions include:
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A directive for Session to immediately stop any further violations of the Numbering Plan Regulations.
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The barring of the affected numbering resources to prevent additional harm and protect the integrity of electronic networks.
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The withdrawal of certain numbering resources where deemed appropriate.
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Close monitoring by ICASA to ensure Session adheres to all directives.
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A mandatory requirement for Session to submit monthly compliance reports for the next 24 months. These reports must include detailed call records and information on international call traffic carried on its network.
A Strong Deterrent for the Industry
The Authority believes this decision sends a clear message to the entire telecommunications sector. It reinforces the importance of strict compliance with the rules, demonstrates ICASA’s dedication to managing scarce national assets responsibly, and serves as a strong deterrent against future misuse.
Ultimately, ICASA stated that the sanctions will help promote fair competition, uphold regulatory standards, and protect consumers in South Africa’s telecommunications market.
