Broadband is a critical component of the National Development Plan, and is firmly on the agenda for the current year, according to Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele.Speaking during the budget vote in Parliament yesterday, Cwele says the department is focusing attention on infrastructure roll-out, the creation and acceleration of the expansion of e-government services, the co-ordination and streamlining of public entities in the sector as a well as a reconfigured Department which will ensure policy and regulatory certainty within the ICT sector.
“The rapid deployment of fast and affordable broadband infrastructure remains a powerful lever to create an internationally competitive knowledge economy, improve productivity and expand access to new markets and social development,” he says.
“Currently, the backbone of broadband infrastructure, which is fixed line fibre, now reaches 170 000 kilometres, linking cities and small towns. We will focus on closing infrastructure gaps with respect to the urban and rural divide, and access networks which will facilitate fibre to the home.”
Cwele believes the country needs to move away from over-reliance on mobile broadband as it will not be sufficient for ensuring effective e-service delivery in schools, health facilities and other government institutions.
“Our National Broadband Policy, SA Connect, places the department in a position to co-ordinate and support the roll-out of broadband infrastructure and services across the country, to achieve 100% broadband penetration by 2020.”
In the current financial year, R20-million has been allocated for the finalisation of the first phase of the broadband plan, he says. By end of this month, the business case will be finalised that seeks funding to connect 580 clinics, 4 444 schools, 182 police stations, and 572 other government offices in the medium term.
“In fulfilling its co-ordination role, the department is engaging industry to establish their broadband roll-out plans in order to avoid infrastructure duplication. There are multiple broadband initiatives by various spheres of government, state-owned entities and the private sector which must be coordinated to maximise efficiency of investment.”
Referencing the National Development Plan, Cwele adds: “As the chairperson of Strategic Integrated Project (SIP)-15, we plan to utilise this platform to coordinate the role of public institutions in the roll-out of broadband infrastructure and services.
“We will establish and operationalise a platform of engagement to facilitate the alignment of rollout plans. The role of SIP-15, is to expand access to communications technology, aims to create new jobs, unlock business opportunities, transform the ICT landscape and support the integration of African economies.
“To this end, we will also focus on local production of content and manufacturing, research and innovation, content and applications development, ICT skills and human resources development, funding for the roll-out of broadband infrastructure, coordination across government departments and the private sector as well as broadcasting digital migration.
“We recognise that government cannot achieve this alone. The National Broadband Advisory Council is a critical platform of engagement to forge partnership between government, private sector, academia, and civil society. All role-players must align their plans to meet the SA Connect targets.”
