The delivery of universal access to information for Gauteng residents is uppermost on the provincial government's priority list.
Speaking at the Gauteng ICT summit today, finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe said broadband is the superhighway that could actualise this aspiration.
"That is why we have embarked upon an ambitious project to implement this solution, which will be underpinned by the utilisation of a variety of networks and devices."
Telecoms limitations
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) focused on the convergence of its IT infrastructure through the Gauteng Link (G-Link) broadband programme.
The aim of this is to improve service delivery, create jobs, realise cost savings, achieve social inclusion through universal broadband access, provide more efficient and effective government and business services, stimulate economic growth and create easily accessible broadband services for all residents.
The MEC adds that through G-Link, the GPG also intends to address existing limitations of the telecommunications industry.
This will be done by providing appropriate access to affordable basic broadband services to at least 95% of provincial households; high content broadband to the Top Twenty Priority Townships and the Urban Renewal Nodes; and to penetrate 20% of customers who reside in Gauteng within five years.
Connected government
"Once G-Link is fully functional, our biggest IT project at present, the Gauteng Online Programme, will become one of the provincial government's e-services to be offered through the broadband technology platform," said Nkomfe.
He added that broadband is one of the greatest opportunities of the 21st Century and government must embrace it.
"This technology has the potential to build the essential infrastructure required for the development of a connected government."
ICT diffusion
The MEC also said the secondary reason for embarking on Gauteng Online is to harmonise service delivery platforms, which are deployed by the different spheres of government.
"This includes creating a single public sector communications network, reduce telecommunications costs, and rationalise provincial shared service centres and data centres."
GPG is exploring cloud computing and virtualisation approaches, according to Nkomfe.
"Through high bandwidth connectivity channels, our service delivery challenges will be a thing of the past."
He added that as broadband infrastructure is being built, the investment must be supported by human capital development.
"The low diffusion of ICT in the country in general, and Gauteng in particular, is aggravated by low Internet penetration. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to provide universal access and computer literacy to the majority of our residents."
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