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Industry awaits ICT policy implications

Simnikiwe Mzekandaba
By Simnikiwe Mzekandaba, IT in government editor
Johannesburg, 30 Sept 2016
Cabinet has approved the long-awaited National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper.
Cabinet has approved the long-awaited National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper.

Cabinet's stamp of approval of the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper comes as welcome relief for the sector that has been plagued by sluggish movement and poor governance.

However, it is still unclear as to what exactly the white paper means for the market.

This week, Cabinet finally approved SA's new ICT policy, which has been three years in the making.

According to Richard Hurst, research director at Market Monitor, SA's ICT sector needs this policy to determine paths for major issues, such as spectrum.

Government has described the ICT policy as one that will ensure the sector fulfils its potential to facilitate inclusive social and economic transformation. The policy is also touted to outline government's plans for the rollout of broadband services across the country and direct the allocation of spectrum.

Minister in the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Jeff Radebe yesterday announced during a media briefing that the new ICT policy will replace the separate white papers on telecommunication (1996) and postal services (1998).

Radebe said Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) minister Siyabonga Cwele will later convene a separate media briefing to further unpack this policy.

One step forward

Marian Shinn, Democratic Alliance (DA) member of Parliament and telecommunications and postal services shadow minister, says while she can't say much about the ICT policy white paper yet, she is pleased it will soon be in the public domain.

"I presume it will be in today's Government Gazette, so the ICT sector can learn what policies around a wholesale network prompted the Independent Communications Authority of SA to push ahead for the spectrum auction, and has so alarmed the mobile network operators.

"This white paper has been three-and-a-half years in the making and, under previous minister of communications Yunus Carrim, was extensively debated by the sector. The review report, published in March last year, was generally favourably received. We wait to see how much it has changed since then."

Industry reactions

Hurst says any positive step initiated by the government in terms of furthering development and embracing a converged ICT environment should be welcomed.

The ICT industry will have to wait to see how the white paper has changed since the review report, says DA member of Parliament Marian Shinn.
The ICT industry will have to wait to see how the white paper has changed since the review report, says DA member of Parliament Marian Shinn.

"However, the proposal of a wholesale open access spectrum regime appears to lack clarity and may place further strain on the nation's ability to unlock its true mobile broadband potential," he notes.

"Spectrum is at the heart of the matter and we can see that the proposed auction of the much-needed 4G spectrum by the regulator will be derailed. In essence, it appears to back the DTPS minister.

"However, the more the market clamours for clarity, it seems the more opaque the directives become."

According to Jon Tullett, IDC research manager for IT services in Africa, approving the ICT policy white paper is an important step but the proof will be in the pudding.

"This is only one small step; once policy is agreed, we'll start amending legislation and establishing structures and generally putting policy into practice over the course of the years to come. And the departments involved have developed a reputation for talk, not action, so the expectations from the market will be modest at best.

"It's worth noting that our ICT sectors have adapted well to these delays. They have been proactive and often highly effective in delivering solutions in the absence of published national policy, so the immediate impact is likely to be minimal anyway," adds Tullett.

Thumbs up

Following yesterday's announcement, Cwele welcomed Cabinet's approval of the ICT white paper.

Cwele said in a statement: "The approval paves the way for the start of a legislative programme that will amend laws where necessary, [and] set up the new proposed structures or institutions. Structures that don't require legislation will now be set up. Consultations with South Africans will continue during the process to enact legislation."

He continued: "This integrated ICT policy outlines supply side measures that will ensure the rollout of quality communications and broadband infrastructure to reach all areas of the country to ensure universal access and services.

"In this regard, it contains a new open access policy that allows access to existing and future networks by all and importantly by new entrants and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). This policy aspect will reduce the duplications in infrastructure rollout and minimise the cost of extending the networks to reach the entire country. It also contains a new spectrum policy that facilitates spectrum sharing and equal access to the spectrum by all licensed operators, new entrants and SMMEs.

"The Rapid Deployment Policy contained in the white paper will streamline the permissions and access by the network operators so as to enable a faster and cheaper rollout of services. The pace of rolling out networks has in the past been hampered by the bureaucracy associated with getting municipal and other permissions; the Rapid Deployment Policy will resolve this dilemma."

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