DOC broadband summit next month

The Department of Communications (DOC) will next month host a broadband summit in aid of rapid deployment to meet its 2020 goal of 100% penetration.

This was announced by communications minister Roy Padayachie, at a discussion hosted by “The New Age” newspaper this morning.

The department recently made a commitment, along with ICT industry players, to create an additional one million ICT jobs and have 100% broadband penetration by 2020.

Commentators have been sceptical of these goals, saying they are ambitious.

However, Padayachie said the department is clear and focused on the targets, and the industry is committed.

“The problem we notice in the economy is weak regulation and weak framework, which operators that wish to grow the economy have to deal with, and it's no more evident than when we deal with the subject of broadband.”

In light of this, the minister said the department has now completed a first draft of the national broadband implementation plan.

He added that part of the problem with the sector is the move from governmental cycle to governmental cycle.

“Plans change as new ministers come and go. It's a chaotic setup. If I was running a business, I would want to be there for about 15 or 20 years. So we are constructing a vision for the ICT sector up to the year 2020.”

The minister said in broadband, it's the sharpest and smartest of South African companies and entrepreneurs that are getting the plans together but they're only focusing on the cherry on the top: the urban areas.

This creates a problem because people living in rural areas get left out.

“Everybody realises the importance of the digital experience that arrives with broadband. It's going to be like a blood transfusion in the economy. But there's no national implementation plan, there's no framework.”

Padayachie said because of this, the DOC now has a national coordinating framework on the table that it will place in the public domain for discussion.

Government also hopes to convene a broadband summit sometime next month, so that the discussion can be brought before the nation.

World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck, participating in a panel discussion with Padayachie, said previous targets for broadband were set too low.

He explained that the definition of broadband that was given during Siphiwe Nyanda's term as minister, of 256Kbps, was already met by SA last year.

Access was defined as 2km away from an access point. Universal access was defined as 15% of households.

“You can't have definitions that set the bar so low that you don't have to do anything to achieve it.”

Goldstuck said the suggested revised definition of broadband by the DOC at 1Mbps is acceptable. Universal should mean everybody and access should mean access around the home.

“We are in full agreement that the definitions need to be revised. 1Mbps is a desirable definition,” said Padayachie.

The minister also discussed digital migration at the event, saying the department is firm in its commitment to switch off analogue in December 2013 and to launch the digital signal in April.

“The network coverage needed for the launch is 70% and Sentech has committed that by April 2012, it will reach the 74% network coverage.

“As indicated in our budget vote, we are still confident to achieve close to 100% population coverage by the end of the migration process at the end of 2013.”

One of the biggest benefits of the digital migration transition is the freeing-up of spectrum, said the minister.

“In particular, this process will prioritise the release of the spectrum that will be re-allocated from broadcasting to mobile communications services.”

Padayachie also said he is fully aware that the electronic communications industry is waiting for policy and regulatory clarity on this matter as it also has implications for the licensing of the 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz bands.

“It's a new digital revolution that's emerging and we're at the tip of the iceberg.”

The department wants to give the spectrum to new players who want to enter the market so it can grow the opportunity for participation.

“Spectrum will not necessarily go to the highest bidder.” Padayachie explained this is because only those with deep pockets will then get it “and we will never democratise this part of the economy”.

He said some spectrum will be given to the big players so they can grow the infrastructure and some will be set aside for newcomers.

Responding to queries around how new players without 'deep pockets' will manage to create networks and use the spectrum, the minister said this is where the notion of facilities-sharing becomes important. “There is a possibility of creating an open access network. I think that may be a way out of the problem.”

“Essentially, we do need some kind of level playing field. That's what we need in the telecoms and IT space otherwise we just end up killing each other. It becomes a damaging environment that isn't in anyone's favour. There's a need to even things out and make sure everyone benefits,” said Goldstuck.

Padayachie said it's a matter of carefully constructing the right balances.

“There has to be give and take. The big elephants in the room have to give some space and they can't hog the environment for themselves.”

Apart from the digital dividend, there is debate around spectrum that was allocated to parties like Sentech and Telkom, which are now sitting on it.

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) introduced a 'use it or lose it' policy but no action has yet been taken on this.

“The spectrum that Telkom and Sentech have been allocated and are not using is important because it can make or break new technology that can help transform the broadband environment,” said Goldstuck.

He gave the example of WiMax, which was essentially killed off by a lack of regulatory efficiency.

Padayachie said this matter is in the terrain of the regulator and the DOC is trying to decide how to instruct ICASA with regards to the 'use it or lose it' policy.