The Transvaal High Court ruled that Altech Autopage Cellular was entitled to self-provide, sparking much rejoicing among those waiting for the ruling. Acting Judge Norman Davis found that the Minister of Communications, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, had overstepped her authority in some of her specific orders to regulator Icasa and ruled that Icasa was to award Altech a coveted individual Electronic Communication Network Services (i-ECNS) licence.

Icasa did not appeal the ruling, but the minister did. "The effect of the learned judge`s judgement is that he has defined the scope and content of the `managed liberalisation policy, which is greatly contested in the market," the minister said in her application for leave to appeal. Judge Davis denied that leave a month later, ordering the minister to pay costs.