Service providers should do more to provide underserviced areas with telecoms access to help close the technology gap in SA.
This is according to Universal Service Agency (USA) CEO, Sam Gulube, who addressed a 2005 USA network event in Rivonia yesterday.
He said MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, Telkom and other telecoms service providers should "go an extra mile" by providing ICT access to underserviced areas, empowering rural communities and bridging the digital divide.
"Sixty percent of people living in SA are in the rural areas, and yet they do not have sufficient access to Internet services and mobile connectivity," said Gulube.
Africa Heritage Investments president Mutumwa Mawere agreed, saying telecoms service providers are not doing enough to penetrate the underserviced areas, while the high cost of telecoms services is also a barrier.
"We cannot escape responsibility in terms of providing access to telecommunications for the previously disadvantaged," said Mawere.
Rural ICT services challenges
Gulube said obstacles in deploying ICT in rural areas are related to human resource development, high technical failure, high costs and finding appropriate applications.
Despite all these challenges, he noted, bringing capacity to these underserviced areas is important, as these areas need telecoms services the most.
There is a greater need to focus on providing very small aperture terminal (VSAT) connectivity and broadband access in rural areas, he added.
Telkom is finalising 250 VSATs for rural areas across the country and Sentech is providing 80 VSATs in multi-purpose community centres, he said.
Share
