The National Broadband Advisory Council (NBAC) - one of former communications minister Yunus Carrim's legacies - looks set to fulfil its intended purpose, with the new telecoms minister pledging full support for its strategy and role.
The NBAC was established by Carrim in March, in a bid to foster continuity between administrations - an important cause, say industry observers, given the previous Department of Communications' (DOC's) ongoing instability.
Newly-appointed Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) minister Siyabonga Cwele has given his full backing. He says the NBAC is at the centre of the partnerships with all sectors of society that government is building "to ensure that we reduce the digital divide and achieve the goals of the National Development Plan". He notes such partnerships can also help eliminate duplication of infrastructure and map out priority areas for investment.
Appointed for three years, the council's job is to advise the incumbent minister of communications on the implementation of SA Connect, government's broadband policy and strategy that aims to have a 100% connected population by 2030.
Chaired by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research president Dr Sibusiso Sibisi - with Research ICT Africa director professor Alison Gillwald as deputy - the NBAC comprises technical experts and representatives of the public sector, business, labour and civil society. It also has two international experts from the International Telecommunication Union and the World Bank.
The advisory council met for the third time this week, with DG of the new DTPS Rosey Sekese sitting in on proceedings.
Continuity
NBAC member and World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck says while it is still early days, the council is already seeing continuity in terms of the DOC itself. "[Sekese] is there and that provides strong continuity."
He says Sekese is, in a sense, the glue holding the relationship together. "She has been part of the council from the beginning - not as a member, but attending meetings."
The third NBAC meeting dealt with issues including the progress made by the DTPS in planning the first phase of connecting health centres, schools and police stations, in line with SA Connect.
Goldstuck says while the council did ask Sekese for clarity on how the newly split ICT ministry would function, there will apparently be no answers until government's upcoming proclamation that deals with reconfigured ministries has been gazetted.
He says where the council has seen progress is in the defining of roles and activities. "The role of the council is still in line with the broadband policy frameworks, targets and intentions. The focus of SA Connect is digital readiness, digital development, the digital future and digital opportunity. I expect that will clearly feature in the work we do."
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