Broadband ideas for new minister

The South African National Broadband Forum plans to hand over its proposed broadband policy framework to the Department of Communications (DOC) at the first sitting of Parliament.

“As we transition into a new government, we see the opportunity to mobilise public opinion of all sectors of society to communicate that broadband is a critical requirement for SA's development,” says Steve Song, telecommunications fellow at the Shuttleworth Foundation.

The forum – made up of the Association for Progressive Communications, SA Connect, the Shuttleworth Foundation and the Southern African NGO Network – says it will take advantage of the new administration to promote broadband as a “national priority”. The group has drawn up a framework, which it will present to the DOC in a bid to contribute to the drafting of a national broadband strategy.

The DOC previously stated it welcomes any input on the development of a national broadband strategy. But it also noted it was in the process of developing its own strategy, which would be made available for public comment.

The forum has opened invitations for the public to view its framework document on its Web site – www.broadband4africa.org.za – and digitally sign it as an endorsement. The signatures will be included in the final, hard copy strategy document, which will be handed over to the newly-elected minister of communications after the national elections. A count this morning shows the forum had 632 individual signatures and 67 from companies.

2014 aims

The draft framework incorporates input received from business, industry and civil society groups following a workshop held in March. The group drew on the knowledge of various constituencies to look at what should be involved in a national broadband strategy and consolidated comments into a proposed framework.

The framework document calls for broadband access in every town and village, the cheapest broadband access on the continent, and for SA to be number one in terms of broadband penetration on the continent – all by 2014.

The forum calls on the government to maximise fibre and wireless broadband infrastructure in urban and rural areas in an equitable and environmentally responsible manner, stimulate the creation of digital broadband content by content providers and citizens, and enhance e-governance and e-citizenship in a broadband environment – among other objectives.

Government failures

Song says limited growth in the telecommunications industry, government's failed liberalisation efforts and stifled competition point to the need for a consolidated strategy.

The forum states government will also benefit from high-speed broadband access. According to the group, improved access will stimulate the creation of commerce and digital broadband content by content providers and government's mandate of affordable learning and teaching can be fully realised. Other sectors, such as healthcare, government services and job creation, will also benefit, it says.

“All South Africans should have affordable broadband access to the Internet. In fact, broadband should be recognised as an essential right, in line with other basic infrastructure such as water, sewerage and electricity,” states Song.

Related stories:

• Broadband input welcome
• Broadband strategy on its way
• Calls for broadband strategy
• Calls to prioritise broadband

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