Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda delivered a raft of policy statements in his departmental budget speech yesterday, which - while not new - made for crystal understanding, observers say.
Delivering his maiden parliamentary speech on the 2009/10 Department of Communications budget vote, Nyanda touched on several major issues that have been the bugbear of the ICT sector for several years.
These included a commitment to finalise a set-top box (STB) manufacturing policy soon, as part of the broadcast digital migration strategy; finalising details on the implementation of the STB ownership subsidy; and an integrated national ICT policy framework that will outline the country's long-term vision for the ICT sector.
He also committed to use the Universal Service and Access Fund to support the deployment of ICT infrastructure and connectivity to needy people in under-serviced areas.
Scrap USALs
It also appears from Nyanda's speech that government is about to scrap the stillborn idea of the under-serviced area licences (USALs). Nyanda noted his predecessor had mooted the idea of a provincial merger of these USALs as an intervention.
“However, the complexities of competition, merging companies, the licensing regime and the dynamics within the ICT industry pose a huge challenge with regards to implementation of such intervention.”
He said a policy directive would be issued in due course.
Nyanda also addressed the state's role in providing broadband access. “In essence, broadband acts as a catalyst to a more robust economy, thus contributing towards increasing the gross domestic product.”
Markets are unlikely to deliver to the majority of the population in the near future, without some form of government intervention, he added.
Making connections
As part of this thinking, Nyanda said a national broadband policy would be finalised by March 2010.
Nyanda said government supports both the West Africa Cable System (an outgrowth of the Broadband Infraco initiative) and the Nepad (also known as Uhurunet) undersea cables.
He pointed to the issue of telecommunications costs by acknowledging the country's tariffs are high by international standards.
“The department will be developing a programme of action aimed at the improvement in cost quality, availability and usage of ICTs. In addition, I will be appointing an independent panel of experts, whose recommendations will assist me to design appropriate interventions to address the cost to communicate effectively.”
On the air
A radio frequency spectrum usage policy will be finalised by March next year and the policy will provide guidance on the allocation of frequencies. This will prioritise issues of national interest, security and spectrum for public use.
“As part of this process, an audit for the spectrum occupancy and usage will be conducted.”
He said cyber security and protection of critical information infrastructures are essential to the country's economic and social wellbeing. To meet this end, Nyanda said a national cyber security policy would be finalised by year-end.
Nyanda added that he has noted the funding challenges faced by national signal distributor Sentech and has committed to resolving the issues as a matter of urgency.
“Increasingly, ICTs are being imbedded in many products and services, and we must ensure that SA gets a share of this market. I would, therefore, like to invite all stakeholders to work together in making ICTs relevant to our people,” he concluded.
In her first speech to Parliament, deputy communications minister Dina Pule touched on training and noted that telecommunications regulator ICASA needs to be adequately funded.
She also committed the Department of Communications to working closely with other government departments, such as health and education, to build an inclusive and development-oriented information society.
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