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Regional broadband collaboration needed

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer
Johannesburg, 25 Feb 2014
To stimulate broadband uptake, it is critical that broadband is affordable and universal, says communications minister Yunus Carrim.
To stimulate broadband uptake, it is critical that broadband is affordable and universal, says communications minister Yunus Carrim.

Communications minister Yunus Carrim, speaking at the Mobile World Congress, said regional regulators should be encouraged to investigate reducing the cost to communicate across the borders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

"Over time, we need to consider ensuring greater consistency of the policy and regulatory frameworks of the countries in the SADC, taking into consideration the specific needs of each country. Harmonisation will contribute to an increase in economies of scale which would help in reducing costs."

Carrim said there is a strong link between investment in broadband, economic growth and job creation. "But to ensure the benefits, there would have to be a critical mass penetration of broadband and this should ideally be across the entire region."

To stimulate broadband uptake, it is critical that broadband is affordable and universal, and the content is relevant, he noted.

Carrim commented that, by ensuring telecoms operators invest in interconnected networks, neighbouring governments can minimise cross-border communication costs, as well as benefit from economies of scale brought about by consolidated buying power.

South Africa supports harmonisation of frequency allocation, stated Carrim. "We actively participate in the SADC process to regularly review the SADC frequency plan which seeks to achieve harmonisation across SADC. We are also actively participating in the SADC process to influence the release of additional spectrum by the International Telecommunication Union."

The SADC and Africa as regions, through the African Telecommunications Union, are playing a significant role in harmonising the digital dividend, which will be released when the move to digital television is complete, providing additional broadband spectrum that is suitable for Africa, the minister said.

"It doesn't matter whether the standards are: WiFi, fibre-to-the home or LTE [long-term evolution]. It only matters that the same standard is chosen for the region. Fortunately, Sub-Saharan African countries have adopted the GSM standard and continue to follow the 3G roadmap."

Carrim says the region must ensure broadband is accessible and affordable. "We must focus on increasing the awareness of our people of the value of the mobile phone and its capacity to provide Internet and broadband in particular and the tremendous benefits of this.

"We need to show them how broadband can help to significantly improve their economic and social circumstances. We need to assist them to be able to use the Internet. Broadband is nothing if it doesn't reach them. And it must. And we as governments, our parliaments, the private sector, civil society organisations, community organisations and whoever have to wage a massive awareness and mobilisation campaign."

Carrim adds it is not enough that there is cooperation in the SADC region, there also needs to be closer relationships with other regional structures of communications ministers and relevant structures of the continent as a whole.