It’s taken over a year, but the merger of the communications and telecoms ministries is finally effective, starting today.

The communications department's new policy directs that a portion of unallocated high-demand spectrum be assigned to WOANs and the remainder to other eligible licensees, report Nozipho Mngomezulu, Peter Grealy, Wendy Tembedza, Ziyanda Ngcobo and Karl Blom.

Showcasing how the Internet can create digitally-enabled citizens, Google’s CS First programme was on show in Cape Town yesterday.

Several government department Web sites on the gov.za domain remained offline for most of last night and into this morning, one year after a similar incident occurred.

Embattled former communications minister Faith Muthambi gets appointed to a key role, as she becomes chairperson of one of the oversight committees in Parliament.

Despite multiple assertions about the imminent spectrum policy direction, history shows SA must take government’s latest spectrum promises with a pinch of salt.

President Cyril Ramaphosa affirms the spectrum policy directive will be issued next month, noting it is key to reducing data costs.

Former embattled minister, Faith Muthambi, is likely to be making a comeback to Parliament.

The new department arises from a merger between the Department of Communications and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services.

The departments are still finding their footing to unify the two ministries, despite having a head-start in the government consolidation process.

Set-top box installation companies look to go to court, as petitions to be reinstated by USAASA appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

The ICT industry lauds the decision to retain minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in her post, noting it signals much-needed continuity in a department characterised by leadership instability.