DoC's broadband for all plan: How, and who will pay?

[rpm]

Broadband for all: How, and who will pay?

The Minister of Communications answers pressing questions regarding its plans for universal broadband access in SA

[Mike Hoxbig]

How, and who will pay?

The taxpayer of course. We exist solely to subsidise the ANC's voter base.

Although this is something that I actually don't mind contributing towards. If it'll help educate people then I'm all for it.

[fluKe]

Incoming internet tax?

[dominic]

Earlier in 2012 Pule explained that based on the investigation of some industry players, the cost of rolling out the network will be somewhere between R60 billion and R89 billion.

hmm. hopefully we will get around to asking someone other than those seeking to gain from the exercise before we settle on a price.

[AcidRaZor]

This is all good, but the government is relying too much on the private sector for everything and yet, stifles growth by not allowing new industry players (as per the other article) to actually enter into the space.

So it's a catch 22. They want the private sector to help build up South Africa, but they also fight against giving the private sector the necessary tools (contracts/licenses) to do so effectively.

[Vl@d]

Another bailout situation where taxpayers need to foot the bill twice! E-troll, Eskom, SABC, Waterworks, PEtrol PRices, where will this end? There is only so much money available in the market and when all is paid to to all the red tape, drawn out promises and fancy cars nothing is left to live from..........

[johandutoit2000]

Here in Aus they decided the same thing about 2 years ago and now you actually see it happening fast. Fiber to every home. It's glorious! The problem in SA is that the political opposition is not strong enough to make sure government sticks to their promises. Nothing would have changed by 2020.

[Easter Bunny]

hmmmm... they spend about R1billion on cars every year, so if they cut back, they could save about R4billion. that's a good start.

also, they could use some of the the R10billionbillion they get from their cash cows with fuel tax, toll roads and
various other nefarious taxes they punish us with.

government can totally fund this adventure by themselves. the reason they say they can't meet the 2020 target if they use their own money, is because there is no way they can make it by 2020 and i don't know who is going to throw away their money of this thing.

[Johnfpro]

The government insist on this total coverage in rural areas but then say they can't pay for it. MORONS

[Beri]

just stop stealing the money you get and use that.

[eltherza]

The government insist on this total coverage in rural areas but then say they can't pay for it. MORONS

I've already set up the scape goat for any possible failure - the private sector. The excuses will be "we asked the private sector to step in, and they failed - it's not our fault [we can't keep our promises]"

[TowerGuru]

just stop stealing the money you get and use that.

this.

[Andaeriel]

just stop stealing the money you get and use that.

Yeah......SURE it doesn't have enough money. Not like when it was COMPELLED to buy military hardware to defend South Africa against imminent invasion.....

[krycor]

Problem with using private sector is TIA.. every corporate including our own have thought nothing of holding SA hostage for profit. We've had 20yrs of this crap in SA, protected eco system in exchange for coverage.. if anything it's time to say bugger them and let anyone and everyone(big corporates of cause) who wants to build a network offering services do so(controlled & planned of cause but really no more 2,3 or 4 network who dictate what they see as the 'market'). Protecting for coverage has not work so don't event bother again else next time we will be the African country where other African countries sell ICT solutions to haha. <-- fast happening too

[Bern]

This is all good, but the government is relying too much on the private sector for everything and yet, stifles growth by not allowing new industry players (as per the other article) to actually enter into the space.

So it's a catch 22. They want the private sector to help build up South Africa, but they also fight against giving the private sector the necessary tools (contracts/licenses) to do so effectively.

It is silly, government should really be creating legislation which facilitates this growth and then have subsidies to incentivise network expansion in less profitable areas.

Yeah......SURE it doesn't have enough money. Not like when it was COMPELLED to buy military hardware to defend South Africa against imminent invasion.....

I am pretty happy with our ships and subs - our waters need to be protected from the fishing trawler invasion as well as a pre-emptive threat against any pirates. Yes, the pirate threat is real, there have already been incidents in Moz for example, now we patrol their and Namibian waters. Our fish stocks are already at almost irrecoverable levels, that is not just an economic issue, but a food stability and environmental one too. Have you noticed ho we don't have many stories about dodgy foreign fishing trawlers in our waters anymore? ****ers know we will own them. Don't forget we have Marion and Gough Island and the waters around them as well to protect.

HOW we went about buying this awesome kit is another story...