Dina Pule, South Africa’s minister of communications, today delivered her communications budget vote speech, setting out her agenda for the future.
“Our vision of building a South Africa in which all South Africans have access and skills to ICT services is essential to this goal of building a prosperous nation,” she said.
“The theme for this year’s budget vote is ‘Connecting South Africans.’ In line with theme, we are focusing on improving the ICT skills base of South Africans, especially our youth,” said Pule.
Pule announced the launch of a new institution, which combines the Institute for Satellite and Software applications, Nemisa and eSkills as a single body. “I am happy with the progress made towards the establishment of this new ICT training institution,” said Pule.
“Over the past four years, we have installed 104 power transmitters which ensured that 1.5 million more people enjoy their basic human right of access to information… The SABC now reaches 94 per cent of South Africans,” said Pule.
Pule said her department plans to deliver a “white paper” regarding the ICT policy in 2014.
Regarding broadband, Pule said the new broadband policy’s public consultation process is closed and she is making the preparations to present the policy to the Cabinet next month.
“The finalisation of this policy will pave the way for ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) to license the much sought after 2.6 gigahertz and 800 megahertz spectrum, including the extended digital dividend,” said Pule.
According to Pule, the digital broadcasting network in the country reaches more than 80 per cent of the South African population. “We have also finalised the subsidy for poor households supported by qualifying criteria. We are ready to implement the Set-Top Box (STB) manufacturing strategy…”
Pule said the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is able to migrate the three existing channels to the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform immediately as well as launch more channels “in due course.”
Regarding the cost to communicate, Pule said: “We remain firm to our commitment of lowering the cost to communicate in pursuance of affordable prices for mobile, fixed and broadband services.”
Pule added cutting the mobile termination rates from ZAR1.25 (US$0.13) to ZAR0.40 (US$0.04) “represents a significant milestone in reducing the cost to communicate.”
“I intend to issue a policy directive to ICASA on transparent pricing of services such as SMS, voice, and data, to ensure market pricing transparency for the benefit of our consumers. This policy measure will also ensure that competition is strengthened in the telecommunications market,” said Pule.
Pule also spoke on the achievements and issues pertaining to broadcasting competition and regulation, the SABC, Sentech, the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA), the Post Office, ICASA and job creation within the ICT sector.
Pule’s full speech can be read here.
