SA has just 1 million broadband connections, 2%, according to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics report.
In her keynote address, DOC deputy minister Dina Pule said: “This statistic shows that there is still tremendous potential for growth in broadband penetration in South Africa.
This presents both challenges and opportunities for us as a developing country.
“Our quest to revolutionise our ICT sector by developing our broadband policy puts us in the company of countries like Australia, Uganda and Korea who are already successfully harnessing this powerful transformative force to the benefit of their citizens.”
Pule also said that the colloquium is a part of government's commitment to address the broadband penetration challenges and opportunities by working in partnership with private enterprise, other stakeholders and all citizens.
A draft broadband policy, put in place by the SA government and gazetted on 18 September 2009, aims to facilitate the provisioning of affordable access to broadband infrastructure to citizens, business and government.
The policy also aims to stimulate the usage of broadband services at national, provincial and municipal level, including in rural areas.
To date, 43 comments on the policy have been received from various quarters, including government departments, operators, municipal organisations, private companies and individuals, DOC deputy director-general for ICT infrastructure development Rosey Sekese said, adding that her department will consider every single comment.
Comments range from setting the broadband speed to clarifying the word ‘multimedia' to reviewing the definition of broadband.
Gauteng has the highest penetration (36%) in South Africa, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (21%) and Western Cape (18%), while the Northern Cape has the lowest penetration with 2%, DOC statistics shows.
“Broadband is a critical tool for socio-economic development and we need to get it right if we are to move forward as a nation,” DOC director-general Mamodupi Mohlala told delegates.
“That is why we don't want to dictate our citizens, but instead get further opinions from them not only here in Gauteng a province with the highest penetration, but also in other provinces.”
It is believed that discussions will be based around issues of speed, uptake and usage, infrastructure, security, competition, awareness and role of the state, among others.
Pule praised the ‘significant' role played by the private sector to develop SA's existing broadband to meet market demand.
“I pray that the next two days will be productive, collaborative, and synergistic as we grapple with the enormous and expanding frontier of broadband development,” the deputy minister concluded.
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