Following a decade of policy development, government is focused on addressing the twin challenge of broadband cost and access.
This will result in a commoditised service, which is available to all and not only the privileged, says Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.
The communications minister yesterday opened proceedings at an industry conference, held in Midrand and organised by the SA Communications Forum.
"[We] come from a painful past where our country's policies and laws were among the worst in the world and used as tools of oppression. The first decade of our democracy was - not surprisingly - dedicated to ensuring our country had one of the best policies and laws in the world to free our people and empower them to be equal members of the global community of nations," she said.
"[The ICT] sector was not an exception in this regard, and I believe our sector policies and laws are no doubt among the best in the world. The second decade of freedom is about implementation. In this regard, you will recall that the question of lowering the cost of communications and improving our universal service levels have been our priority."
Down to business
Acknowledging the widespread interest in broadband, Matsepe-Casaburri said the Department of Communications is addressing the "twin challenge of access and cost" in separate, but linked, processes.
"The first is specific policy directives and the other specific interventions to increase access. It is clear that in order to address - in the long term - the question of cost, access will first have to be taken for granted by all citizens. This means that, in addressing the cost of communications, we have to ensure broadband is not a scarce commodity, or a commodity to be enjoyed by a few who are privileged by either income and/or geographic location."
Matsepe-Casaburri referred to last year's budget speech where she outlined interventions in the South African Post Office and Sentech. These would provide a core ICT public access network and wireless network to support government service delivery.
Additionally, the increased offering of broadband services and reduction in call termination rates by cellular network operators had translated into lower costs for the public, she noted.
"These are clear signals that our sector is concerned about the inequality of access that still exists in our country, and is committed to playing its part in making ours a country alive with possibilities for all."
No infrastructure hostages
Matsepe-Casaburri also noted the impact infrastructure ownership had on the industry and assured the situation would change soon.
"The days when companies literally held others hostage, because they owned the underlying infrastructure, are slowly becoming history. Like in the gas or oil industries, we are working towards a common open and non-discriminatory access infrastructure framework that is used at cost also in the ICT sector."
She explained: "We are making open and non-discriminatory access to all ICT backbone infrastructure an important aspect of the terms of reference of the Broadband Advisory Council which will start its work in earnest this year. We are confident that this way, with little cost on the backbone part, operators and other service providers will be able to compete in the provision of services which they can then provide at affordable prices."
In May - Information Society month - the Department of Communications will hold awareness campaigns to ensure South Africans are "e-aware" and prepared to use ICT to improve their quality of life.
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