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80% African broadband penetration by 2020

Farzana Rasool
By Farzana Rasool, ITWeb IT in Government Editor.
Johannesburg, 08 Jun 2012

Ministries that engaged in the inaugural ICT Indaba this week set a target of delivering broadband to 80% of African citizens by 2020.

Giving the closing remarks in Cape Town yesterday, SA communications minister Dina Pule said work was done to ensure the conference crafted a framework that will position Africa on a trajectory to sustainable development through technology.

The focus was also on the creation of a solid foundation for a truly connected future for Africa. “In this connected future, all of Africa's major cities, towns and villages will be connected to affordable Internet, thereby facilitating the continent's mass entry into the knowledge and information economy,” said Pule.

Updating regulations

The indaba also set the target to support the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in their plans to support the updating of the International Telecommunications Regulations.

This will help developing countries to benefit from the frameworks for interconnections and roaming in the telecommunications market.

“African experts should also increase participation in the ITU study groups which focuses on these issues to influence their outcomes.”

The minister added that a team is being set-up to monitor the progress in the implementation of the indaba's resolutions and give feedback at regular intervals. “We shall work with the existing continental and regional organisations to get the cooperation of the rest of the countries that were not present at this indaba.”

Consumption cut

“It is undeniable and it is very clear that delivering broadband to every citizen on the continent will accelerate the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals,” said Pule.

She added that the work of the Indaba will also assist in identifying and closing the skills gap within African countries.

The greatest achievement of this approach would be to help Africa create its own technologies, instead of the continent just being a consumer.

Removing barriers

The indaba concluded with a ministerial declaration that emphasises the common desire and commitment to eradicate the barriers of poverty through the promotion and use of enabling ICTs to build and foster a people-centred knowledge-based economy in Africa.

It recognises that the attainment of a knowledge-based economy on the continent will require accelerating investment in robust and secure infrastructure. “To that end, we endorse the development of creative, competitive and sustainable ICT industries across Africa.”

The declaration also reaffirmed regional programs like “Connect Africa” through which commitments have been made to connecting African cities and villages through broadband, adopting policy and regulatory measures promoting ICT access, supporting ICT capacity building and adopting e-strategies and cyber security measures to promote e-services.

The declaration is a statement of intent of the representatives in attendance at the inaugural ICT Indaba in conjunction with the ITU. It provides a point of reference for the priority areas identified at the Indaba to guide the implementation of an accelerated agenda in using ICTs for socio-economic development in African countries.

Quantum leap

Several goals were outlined to be attained by 2020.

These include 80% broadband penetration in Africa since broadband communication has been declared a basic human right in Africa; advancing consultations with relevant stakeholders; expediting policies and regulations that are geared towards reduction of costs to communicate; advancing pragmatic and foresight-driven eStrategies with a key focus on providing tangible solutions to immediate challenges in education, agriculture, health and overall government service delivery; closing the skills gap that exists between African countries and developed nations; and enhancing growth in the green economy.

“We further recognise that many of the topics proposed for discussion are directly relevant to stimulating growth of the telecommunications and ICT sectors in Africa thereby providing a secure and enabling environment for developing a knowledge-based, inclusive and connected economy.”

In supporting the outcomes of the indaba, the declaration says participating ministries commit to exploring strategic partnerships within the continent and others in order to consolidate expertise; setting Africa on a quantum leap growth curve by enhancing GDP growth through lessons learnt and applying innovation within the African context; and participating in international programmes through the UN.

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