Zuma promises lower telecoms costs

South African president Jacob Zuma delivered his State of the Nation Address in parliament today, focusing on various issues including crime, the economy, education and healthcare.

In the communication department, Zuma said that a development which should boost the World Cup is the roll-out of the digital broadcasting infrastructure and signal distribution transmitters.

Zuma said that Government “will ensure that the cost of telecommunications is reduced through the projects underway to expand broadband capacity.”  “We have to ensure that we do not leave rural areas behind in these exciting developments,” Zuma added. 

It is assumed that Zuma is referring to local and international bandwidth developments, including Infraco Broadband and the West African Cable System (WACS).

Broadband Infraco will have a strong focus on providing wholesale backhaul connectivity to former under-serviced area licensees (USALs).  This, Broadband Infraco said, will help empower historically disadvantaged individuals (HDI).

Zuma also touched on cyber crime, and said that they are planning to intensify their efforts against cyber crime and identity theft.  According to recent reports cybercrime is on the increase and is partly fuelled by the global economic crisis.

According to Trend Micro organized cybercrime will take advantage of out-of-work IT professionals whose high level skills will make the methods of attacks more sophisticated and refined.

Zuma on broadband and telecoms – give your views