As the world celebrates World Telecommunications Day today, telecommunications providers MTN and Vodacom say the day should be used to highlight across-the-board telecommunications access.
MTN spokesperson Yvonne Muthien says as part of the company`s World Telecommunications Day celebrations, it is embracing the "creation of an equitable information society".
"MTN will once again support the Department of Communications as the anchor platinum sponsor of the 2005 World Telecommunications Day event, to be held at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Saturday, 4 June.
Muthien says along with its partners, including government, MTN is committed to continuing its efforts to take communications to everyone. As examples of this, she highlights the group`s investment in projects that take communications to some of the most remote parts of the African continent, and the MTN Schools Connectivity project.
"The R21 million schools connectivity project was launched in 2002 to improve the quality of education through increasing access to ICT in disadvantaged schools," says Muthien.
"The meaningful role the ICT industry has played and still needs to play in empowering communities and improving ordinary lives of people, should be an important consideration on World Telecommunications Day," says Palesa Chabula, Vodacom SA corporate communications manager.
"The day gives recognition to the achievements and advancements made in the ICT sector, but most importantly, it serves as an opportunity for industry players to re-evaluate their respective contributions," says Chabula.
"Vodacom will showcase some of the work it has done in underserviced areas. There is a growing realisation and acceptance of the importance of ICT in developing a globally competitive knowledge-based economy," says Chabula.
She says universal service should not only be about extending telephony to the most rural corners of the country, but should also address social and economic challenges, specifically with regards to eradicating poverty, accelerating growth and job creation.
"The challenges remain for industry players to ensure telecommunication services are available to as many people as possible," says Chabula.
Several local ICT players are marking the day with events in and around Johannesburg today.
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