The development of SA's five-year broadband strategy, which was to help the country come out of its broadband doldrums and drive strong penetration levels, was not included in the Department of Communications' 2008/9 priority list.
This is despite the DOC saying last year that the strategy would be finalised by 2008.
In its presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, earlier this month, the DOC announced plans to implement phase one of its wireless broadband infrastructure roll-out through Sentech, providing connectivity for 233 Dinaledi schools.
The department also prioritises the construction of the Uhurunet/Infraco government-supported submarine cable, and developing a programme of action to benchmark telecommunications costs, quality, availability, accessibility and usage in SA against Brazil, Chile, India, Malaysia and South Korea.
Other broadband priorities include developing radio frequency spectrum usage policies in line with World Radio Conference 2007, and increasing universal access to government information and services through building Thusong Post Offices in 100 communities. The Thusong project is to be led by the South African Post Office.
However, the finalisation of the comprehensive plan that communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri initially said in 2006 would provide clear guidelines as to how SA planned to increase broadband penetration levels in a five-year period, is not included in the report.
DOC spokesman Albi Modise was unable to provide input about the fate of that process at the time of publication.
Local task team
In her May 2006 budget vote speech, Matsepe-Casaburri announced the formation of the Broadband Advisory Council to oversee the drawing up of this strategy.
The council was to be chaired by Dr Victor Lawrance, from Ghana, and include Dr Henry Chasia, executive deputy chairman of the Nepad e-Africa Commission. A deadline for the council's report was set for the end of 2006.
After failing to meet the deadline, the DOC said the strategy was put on hold pending the finalisation of the terms of reference that would guide the advisory council. It was also noted that the DOC would appoint a local task team that included ICT sector stakeholders.
Losing focus
IDC programme manager for communications in Africa Richard Hurst says it is concerning that the DOC is not keeping an eye on the ball with regard to medium-term broadband planning.
However, the lack of clear guidance will not have a major impact on the overall scheme of things. It will simply "cast a cloud" on the sector, he says.
However, MyADSL founder Rudolph Muller sees the absence of the strategy having a greater impact on SA's broadband penetration levels.
It fails to provide strong deadlines for licensing and spectrum allocation, and thus, hinders competition, he argues.
Muller notes that the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) simply implements legal directives and policies from the DOC.
If the DOC provided specific deadlines as part of the broadband strategy, ICASA would have to meet them, he says.
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