The roll-out of phase one of government's long-awaited broadband plan - SA Connect - will commence in August, says finance minister Malusi Gigaba.
Yesterday, Gigaba unveiled details of an "inclusive economic growth action plan" that lays out timelines for key structural reforms, such as the implementation of SA Connect.
The finance minister says these interventions would support both business and consumer confidence, thereby laying the foundation for an economic recovery.
SA Connect is the national broadband policy adopted by Cabinet in 2013. The project aims to deliver 100% broadband connectivity to government facilities by 2020. It is also expected to deliver broadband access to 90% of the country's population by 2020 and 100% by 2030.
Government has identified this broadband project as a key area that can help boost the economy and create jobs.
Due to the magnitude of SA Connect, government decided the project should be implemented in two stages: phase one of the project would connect all schools, health facilities, government offices, Thusong Centres and post offices, in eight rural district municipalities, to broadband services.
However, last December marked three years since the national broadband policy was adopted, with no sign of progress to connect the districts identified as the pilot sites for phase one.
Commenting on the latest timeline to kick-start SA Connect, Gigaba believes the set deadlines will be met.
"We need to work very hard. Treasury will play its part in monitoring this and providing assistance to the Presidency in terms of monitoring, so that we report timeously to Cabinet about the implementation of these programmes," he says.
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