The Department of Communications` strategic plan for 2006 will spell out specific interventions that will lay the foundation for the development of the economy, says deputy communications minister Roy Padayachie.
He introduced the department`s plan to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications today.
Padayachie said a crucial element of this plan involves multi-stakeholder participation in building a common vision for ICT development, and the implementation of a common national and international agenda for economic growth and prosperity.
He said the plan is aligned to five key focus areas: achieving high rates of investment in the economy, increasing competitiveness of the South African economy, broadening participation in the economy, improving the State`s capacity to deliver, and contributing to a better world.
Communications director-general Lyndall Shope-Mafole said the core functions of her department are to develop ICT policies that stimulate the sustainable development of the first and second economies; to evaluate the economic, social and political implementation impacts; to exercise ICT oversight of State-owned enterprises; and to fulfil SA`s continental and international responsibilities in the ICT fields.
Shope-Mafole said the department`s key contributions to achieving its strategic goals would include a digital migration strategy.
"Towards the end of the year, the digital migration strategy will have a more visual affect on our population," she said.
Another key output will be a funding plan for the Sentech and SABC digital migration.
"As far as Sentech is concerned, a number of discussions have been conducted about their national broadband wireless roll-out and the multifaceted use of it."
Post offices are to become a core ICT access for the public, where they can access different kinds of government services, Shope-Mafole said.
She also emphasised in the department`s strategic plan that the country will have an ICT-ready infrastructure for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
"I have no doubt that we will be ready for this," she added.
Members of Parliament will question the department on its strategic plan during the course of today.
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