Budget 2015: The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS), which was created last May when the former communications department was split in two, has set itself several policy targets.
The DTPS, which has a R1.5 billon budget for the new financial year, aims to ensure broadband connectivity provides secure and affordable access for all citizens to education, health and other government services, and stimulates socio-economic development, its budget vote in the Estimates of National Expenditure states.
This document, handed out to coincide with the afternoon's budget speech, says this will be done through implementing the digital readiness programme in line with South Africa Connect, as well as compiling a report on legislation and regulations that inhibit the achievement of broadband policy objectives by March 2016.
The DTPS also aims to develop policy to enable the rapid deployment of electronic communications networks by next March, and develop and facilitate the implementation of capacity-building programmes focusing on IT literacy for educators, government officials, healthcare workers and other provincial governments by March 2018.
Among the DTPS's targets is also a plan to implement the cost to communicate programme of action aimed at promoting affordable ICT services for consumers. The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA), which now falls under the Department of Communications, has been dealing with the thorny issue of high communication costs.
Yet, says the DTPS, it will develop an approved roaming policy by next March, an approved local loop unbundling strategy by March 2017, and a policy directive on the reduction of data costs by March 2016. Aspects of the ICASA Act fall under DTPS.
The DTPS also aims to ensure broadband connectivity stimulates socio-economic development by implementing the digital opportunities programme of the broadband policy SA Connect by developing and facilitating the implementation of the digital entrepreneurship programme to enhance ICT adoption and use by small, micro and medium enterprises by March 2018.
Its other targets include making sure citizens have access to postal services to achieve economic inclusion, by developing and facilitating the implementation of the national address system policy by March 2018.
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