Cellphone giant Vodacom on Tuesday filed an amendment to the interconnection agreements with the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) for its consideration and review.

The agreements on the mobile termination rates (MTR) were between Vodacom and MTN on the one hand and Cell C and Vodacom on the other, the company said in a statement.

The agreements proposed a reduction of the peak MTR from R1.25 to R0.89, while the off-peak MTR rate would stay unchanged at R0.77.

The new MTR rate was to come into effect on March 1.

Rates review agreement

"We fully support the ongoing regulatory process and trust that Icasa will swiftly finalise the regulations in this regard," Vodacom chief executive officer Pieter Uys said.

Last week, Cell C and Vodacom said they would lower their tariffs next month, despite Icasa's rejection of the proposals.

The mobile operators proposed a reduction in peak-time rates from R1.25 to 89 cents a minute in March, 85c a minute in October 2011 and 80c a minute in October 2012.

The current 77c for the off-peak interconnection rate would remain the same until 2013.

Delayed review

The operators made the implementation of their proposal subject to the condition that Icasa undertook not to review mobile termination rates until March 1, 2013.

But, Icasa said it would not support the interconnection proposal and would first release draft regulations on the matter.

"These agreements sought to bind the authority to an undertaking not to review mobile termination rates until March 1, 2013," Icasa said in a statement.