SA will have a more refined, succinct and meaningful National Broadband Policy within the next three months, while the long-awaited policy on spectrum allocation will finally see the light of day in March next year.
This comes from recently-appointed communications minister Yunus Carrim, who delivered the opening address at the 16th annual Southern Africa Telecommunications Networks and Applications Conference, in the Western Cape, this morning.
Carrim says SA's broadband policy - published under the leadership of former communications minister Dina Pule earlier this year - has seen "too many delays" and the time has come for industry and government to work towards progress together.
Policy promises
Five months down the line from the gazetting of the Department of Communications' (DOC's) National Broadband Policy for public participation, Carrim has indicated his resolve to improve the text that will underpin SA's broadband ambitions, and take strides towards its finalisation and implementation.
The seemingly resolute minister, who has held the portfolio for about eight weeks now, says he was presented with a draft of the broadband policy last week Monday - and found it to be "depressing" and unnecessarily long.
He says he has sent the draft back to the DOC, which will make the necessary amendments. "I will hold a meeting [with DOC representatives] in about 10 days to finalise the policy, after which it will be taken to the relevant departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Public Enterprises [among others] and we will have the final National Broadband Policy by the end of November. You can hold me to that."
With regards to the crucial allocation of high-demand spectrum - an issue that has been hanging in the air for about seven years now - Carrim has promised delivery by the end of March next year.
In November 2006, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) kicked off the process by issuing a discussion document seeking written comments on the procedures and criteria for granting radio frequency licences.
After years of submissions, public hearings and delays - largely relating to the lagging issue of digital migration - the new broadband policy went to Cabinet in June this year, and was pegged as the document that would pave the way for ICASA to license 2.6GHz and 800MHz spectrum.
Finally, Carrim has promised SA's ICT Policy, which will overhaul the country's existing ICT legislation - currently in the hands of an ICT Policy Review Panel - will see significant progress by the end of the year.
Within the next two-and-a-half months, he says, a green paper on the extensive policy will be finalised, while a white paper is tabled for exposure by the end of the year. "I am hoping for a white paper on SA's ICT policy before the elections."
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