The South African Department of Communications (DoC) is inviting stakeholders to submit comments on the country’s proposed National Broadband Policy, which is seeking to ensure universal access to broadband.
The DoC published the “Consultation on the proposed National Broadband Policy for South Africa” in the Government Gazette last week.
The aims of the policy, according to the department, include to “ensure universal service and access to reliable, affordable and secure broadband services to all citizens”, “building an informed society” and reducing the cost of broadband services.
South Africa’s first broadband policy was approved by Cabinet in June 2010, but the DoC launched a review “to ensure a seamless implementation approach as aligned to the Department’s 2011/14 Strategic Plan”.
The South African government has been accused by World Wide Worx founder Arthur Goldstuck of only paying “lip service” to its much-publicised the 2020 100 per cent broadband penetration target. Goldstuck believes the country is set to miss this target badly.
Goldstuck told HumanIPO the government was wholly reliant on the private sector for its broadband roll out.
“All efforts towards that target are coming from private enterprises at the moment,” he said. “The government is paying lip service towards broadband, but there is nothing in place to achieve it.”
Comments on the broadband policy can be emailed to Norman Munzhelele at [email protected] within 30 working days of the date of publication of the notice (3 April 2013).
