Telkom CEO Sizwe Nxasana has underscored the value of the information and communications technology (ICT) in strengthening democracy, imploring Africa to embrace the information age if it hopes to unlock its potential.
This, said Nxasana, would go a long way in increasing civil society participation in the decision-making processes and broaden the accessibility of much-needed government services.
Speaking at the International Communications Forum in Cape Town today, Nxasana said SA needed ICT to achieve its national objectives, including quality education, an ideal health system and job creation - "the kind of jobs that utilise the application of knowledge to create a competitive advantage".
He said the media could deepen democracy by facilitating social interactions and making information more readily available to the country`s citizens.
"But these citizens will not be in a position to make inputs, and will remain voiceless unless they have access to information and communication technologies," said Nxasana.
He added: "It is absolutely imperative that we continue to seek ways and implement innovative solutions to bring the digital divide in all its many forms."
Nxasana further remarked that, while the use of technology such as the Internet and cellphones had vastly increased our freedom to communicate, the majority of the world`s population did not enjoy equal access to information.
"And it is this issue that lies at the very heart of the digital divide," Nxasana observed, adding that the Sub-Saharan African region had the least developed infrastructure in the world with a mere 0.4% of the world`s telephone lines.
Nxasana said measures which could be taken to resolve problems of access to information included government investing in capabilities to develop indigenous content, introducing trade and tax reforms on IT and telecommunications, boosting education and training to tackle illiteracy.
Other measures, he added, could be the introduction of regulatory reform, liberalisation and allowing private enterprise to partner governments in building an infrastructure that will meet the requirements of international investors and local business alike.
"If Africa`s potential is to be realised, and if its citizens are to actively participate in the democratic system, the continent must be fully integrated in the information age," said Nxasana.
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