The Department of Communications (DOC) has published SA's broadband policy, outlining its intention to deliver broadband services to all citizens by 2019. But analysts believe the actual co-ordination and financial requirement to implement the policy may be too overwhelming.
The policy outlines its main objective as “facilitating the provisioning of affordable, accessible universal access to broadband infrastructure to citizens, business, communities and the three spheres of government, and to stimulate the usage of broadband services - in order to promote economic development and growth and acts as an enabler for further social benefits”.
To this end, analysts applaud the objective of the policy. WWW Strategy MD Steven Ambrose notes that the published policy document appears well researched, and draws on global leading practice to propose considered and balanced macro outcomes.
“Based on the policy document, the main requirements of accessibility and affordability appear to be carefully thought out and eminently achievable by 2019. The highlighting of content development is also a very laudable goal.”
In fact, argues Ambrose: “The goal of universal access as defined in the policy is very achievable, as long as the context of the access is understood.
“A penetration of 15% of households having broadband access as defined is actually far below where we expect broadband to actually be by 2020.
“The ability of every citizen having a broadband access point within two kilometres is also very achievable, as mobile access already allows for Edge or 3G coverage, which currently exceeds the policy's definition of greater than 256kbs, and already covers more than 90% of the population of SA,” he continues.
“If anything, the delivery targets are carefully managed to ensure ease of achievement, and not best possible outcomes, taking current and future technologies and resources into account.”
Despite Ambrose's belief in the policy's possible success, he maintains that the document reads like a list of leading practice, and comes across as a wish list of magical outcomes for the country.
In reality
According to the policy, broadband for all must have been achieved by 2019. While analysts believe the deadline is time enough to achieve the goal, doubts remain whether the country will have the financial backing from public and private sector to make it a reality.
“The largest challenge is government money being made available to assist with broadband development. The broadband challenge is simply too big a financial challenge for the private sector alone, and government needs to assist with significant investment here,” states BMI-TechKnowledge MD Denis Smit.
No financial strategy has yet been provided to meet the objective, but the policy does mention that government will use state-owned enterprises, such as Sentech and Infraco, for the provisioning of electronic communications network services.
“The authority [ICASA] and all state-owned enterprises and agencies should fulfil their various mandates as stipulated in the EC Act. The authority will contribute by implementing policy through regulation. The agency (USAASA) will consider the targets set in the broadband policy when allocating funding to various projects,” reads the policy.
However, Smit argues that the policy is too vague regarding the role of state-owned enterprises. “I am concerned, however, that the document does not articulate fully the roles of Sentech, SITA and Broadband Infraco. This is very problematic as there is a lot of confusion about roles, especially that of Sentech,” he offers.
Ambrose concurs: “The biggest challenges will be that of actual implementation, as state-owned enterprises, such as Sentech and Infraco, are to be tasked with much of the burden, and historically have performed abysmally in any form of commercially viable national infrastructure projects. The role of the private sector is not fleshed out and appears to be secondary, which will be a major flaw in implementation.”
There are really pressing concerns that bad and long-lasting decisions may be made by ICASA in this arena and clarity and direction from the DOC in this regard is urgently needed, adds Smit.
He maintains that the will and capacity to achieve the goal of broadband for all remains to be seen, especially with so many other service delivery demands unmet.
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