DoC still dreams of better broadband

Communications Minister Dina Pule today (24 January 2012) reaffirmed the Department of Communications’ commitment to deliver 100% broadband penetration in South Africa by 2020.

Speaking at a media briefing Pule said that they “took a big step towards this goal by signing the compact with the ICT industry in August 2011”.

“Taking note that the Broadband Policy was adopted by Cabinet in 2010, we are in the process of completing a broadband mapping study to identify the existing broadband infrastructure and services gaps,” said Pule.

Pule said that initial estimates indicate that establishing the broadband infrastructure the country needs will require a significant investment and can only be achieved through a partnership between the public and private sectors.

“To facilitate the rollout of broadband in this country, especially in rural areas, the Department has issued two policy directions in respect of two frequency bands, that is the 2.6 GHz Band and 800 MHz Band, also known as the High Demand and Digital Dividend respectively, for public comments.”

“We are hopeful that the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) will finalize the processes for awarding the broadband spectrum, within the confines of our policy, as soon as possible. We are finalizing the Broadband Strategy which will be released for public comments.”

At the same media briefing Pule announced that the launch date of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in South Africa will be pushed back to the third quarter of 2012 instead of the planned switch-on date for April 2012.

The Department of Communications initially planned for the countrywide switch to digital TV to start in November 2008 and be completed by November 2011.