Government needs creative innovators and entrepreneurs to make ICT affordable to all, says communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda.
Speaking at the ICT Vision 2020 forum held on Friday at the Sandton Convention Centre, the minister said the ICT industry must work with government to resolve the national development challenges of bringing technology to the poor.
“It is through such partnerships that my department will support this ICT Vision 2020 Forum comprising representatives of the ICT industry and its associations, civil society representatives, the academic community and more importantly the youth.”
The forum was convened to set targets and goals for bringing technology to all South Africans, and to create jobs and development through the growth of the industry by 2020.
The minister reiterated his commitments made during his budget speech earlier this year. He is promoting a policy framework with open markets, competition and public-private partnerships.
Nyanda explained that broadband networks were required to ensure the vision is met. He said access to electronic communication and network services, especially broadband and the Internet, remain unaffordable to large sections of our society.
“Broadband services, if made available at an affordable rate, can add great value to our developmental agenda,” he added.
The minister said the department has turned its focus to providing affordable broadband to SA.
Share
