One hundred percent broadband penetration by 2020 is the goal of Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele.
One hundred percent broadband penetration by 2020 is the goal of Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele.
Addressing a major national telecommunications conference, he spoke about the new South Africa Connect broadband strategy.
“Government has long realised the immense potential of universal and accessible broadband to fight the triple threats of unemployment, poverty and inequality," Cwele said.
"This government has identified the sectors of information and communications technology (ICT), transport, water and energy as key to job creation." Competition through open access could lower the barriers to entry for new entrants and SMMEs, making broadband cheaper and more accessible, he said.
"We committed to ICT development in the New Growth Path (NGP), and more recently in [2012's] National Development Plan: 2030 (NDP).
"The two reports have identified broadband as a critical enabler of socio-economic development," he told the Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference on 1 September. His talk was entitled ‘Ubiquitous Broadband – An enabler to transform lives’.
Through SA Connect, he said, his department would coordinate and support the roll-out of broadband infrastructure and services across the country, to achieve 100% broadband penetration by 2020.
"This will enable government to improve the quality of services it delivers to citizens and offer more services online,” he said. Cwele said a White Paper on Integrated ICT Policy is expected to be drafted by the end of this financial year, in March 2015.
The Department is visiting all the provinces and working with municipalities through the SA Local Government Association to co-ordinate broadband activities across all spheres of government to SA Connect.
