Government will license a fourth mobile operator and a third fixed-line operator in 2009.
That's the word from ANC MP and member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications Khotso Khumalo, who made the announcements at the Nokia Siemens Networks Southern Africa Industry Seminar, in Johannesburg, this morning.
In addition to the announcements on new operators, Khumalo also said government wanted VANS to be allowed to self-provide and that the frequency spectrum allocation would be made more efficient.
"Things are changing and changing fundamentally," said Khumalo. "As government, we need to look at better ways to liberalise the telecommunications market."
Linda Khumalo, head of sub-region Southern Africa at Nokia Siemens Networks, said that, as one of government's industry partners, he welcomed its announcements.
"All of us agree that we need to drive down costs and increase adoption of telecommunications," he said. "We're very happy that government is being more aggressive in this regard. But his statements were quite a shock: I was sitting there and asking myself whether I understood correctly what he was saying."
Shock disclosures
Andre Wills, senior consultant at Africa Analysis, agreed that he had never heard so large a number of significant announcements for the local telecoms market in so short a time.
Wills, who followed Khumalo on the speaker programme, quipped that he had an impossible act to follow.
"The key to extending telecommunications services across the region is to find innovative ways to affordably connect remote, rural areas. Access to mobile telephony and other telecommunications services, such as the Internet, facilitate much better access to education," said Khumalo.
"[Telecommunications services also provide] health benefits, job opportunities and a plethora of other advantages that empower people in their everyday lives - especially those who are distanced from the opportunities and benefits of living near or in a city with amenities and business opportunities.
"The problem is the average household has only between R21 and R35 per month to spend on telecommunications."
Nokia Siemens Networks also revealed findings for SA in a recent Connectivity Scorecard Study.
The study measured the extent to which governments, businesses and consumers make use of connectivity technologies to enhance social and economic prosperity. The country emerged as an average performer within its peer group of "resource and efficiency-driven" economies, with a score of 5.26. It showed progress in certain areas, such as mobile phone subscription levels and government use of ICT.
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