Broadband Policy: Your input needed

Rudolph Muller

Rudolph Muller is the editor at MyBroadband and covers telecoms and broadband news. Rudolph comes from an academic background, but left the University of...

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The Department of Communications (DoC) recently released its draft South African Broadband Policy aimed at increasing the accessibility and affordability of broadband throughout South Africa.

In the document the DoC states that the objective of the policy is “To facilitate the provisioning of affordable access to Broadband infrastructure to citizens, business and government and also stimulate the usage of Broadband services at national, provincial and municipal levels.”

The DoC said that its key objectives are:  ‘to build the information society’, ‘to increase affordability’and ‘to increase uptake and usage’.

What is Broadband 

The DoC defines broadband as an ‘always available, multimedia capable connection’.  It looks like the Communications Department tried to avoid stipulating a minimum downlink speed associated with a broadband service, but this vague definition may well cause problems in future.

The DoC further divides broadband into Basic Broadband and Commercial Broadband.  The Broadband Policy states that Basic Broadband should be the minimum service a South African citizen should have access to, but an explanation of what exactly Basic Broadband is is not given. 

The DoC however commits to defining the minimum service in their national strategy on broadband which will be amended as required.

Key priority areas

The DoC considers access, affordability, usage, the roles of each sector and the implementation as key priorities.  The draft policy is clear that all citizens have a right to basic broadband while Government and Non-Government Organizations must have access to broadband.

The DoC further states that it plans to use scarce radio frequency spectrum in the public interest, prioritizing it for developmental objectives.  “Appropriate frequency spectrum will be identified and set aside for Broadband applications,” the document states.

To enhance affordability the DoC plans to promote competition and intervene where market forces fail.  Telecommunications infrastructure based competition, services based competition and physical infrastructure sharing will also be encouraged.

Government plans to “take the lead in the uptake and usage of broadband, and should increase the public awareness on Broadband in partnership with civil society”.  Government will further play a prominent role in ensuring that the broadband networks and users are secure.

A Broadband Steering committee will be established to ensure the successful implementation of the broadband strategy.  Broadband penetration will be used to measure to success of the new policy.  “If Broadband remains inaccessible and unaffordable to citizens in South Africa, this policy and its implementation will be reviewed,” the broadband policy states.

The Department of Communications has requested comments on its draft South African Broadband Policy which should be emailed to Petrus Khoza at Broadband@doc.gov.za no later than 17 October 2009.

DoC Broadband Policy – comments and views