SA govt fast tracks ICT programme
GOVERNMENT
By BiztechAfrica - Oct. 16, 2012, 8:01 a.m.
The South African government plans to begin digital migration this year, and has finalised its national broadband programme.
The Minister of Communications, Dina Pule, said early this month, the government launched the Proof of Concept for Digital Terrestrial Television or DTT. “As we move towards digital migration let me add that Government will provide a 70% subsidy towards the cost of the Set Top Boxes or decoders to 5 million of the poorest TV-owning households.
The specifications for the decoders include internet capability and will ensure that millions of South Africans are given a ticket to the digital age. We envisage that the commercial rollout of DTT will occur in December.”
She added that the national Broadband Strategy and Implementation Plan had been finalised. The government planned to meet stakeholders to discuss the national broadband path before the end of this year, she said. “We remain steadfast in achieving our target of 100 percent broadband penetration by 2020.”
The Minister conceded that South Africa had been slow to respond to new opportunities presented by ICT development.
However, she highlighted the government’s moves to speed up ICT development and called on the private sector to intensify its efforts to assist in expanding the sector.
MORE GOVERNMENT NEWS
Being Pan-African symposium underway
Leading intellectuals from Africa and the African Diaspora are convening in Ethiopia for the African Union symposium “Being Pan-African.” Read MoreNCC: MNP is succeeding
Despite scepticism over MNP in a nation well used to owning multiple SIMs, Nigeria’s NCC says MNP is succeeding. Read MoreMalawi to establish National Data Centre
The Malawi government will this year establish a National Data Centre to rationalise data storage and data processing facilities in the country. Read MoreZambia commends Ghana for digital migration
Zambia’s Information and Broadcasting Services deputy minister Mwansa Kapeya has commended Ghana for the successful implementation of its digital migration programme. Read MoreMozambican President on visit to China
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza has arrived in Shanghai, on a working visit to China, to boost trade and cooperation between the two countries. Read MoreITU awards Rwanda for WSIS ICT4D action plan
The ITU has handed two awards to Rwanda for its efforts in implementing WSIS (World Summit on Information Society) in ICT for Development. Read MoreEgypt stages second IT companies’ forum
Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Atef Helmy, this week presided over the second forum for IT companies. Read MoreUganda invites input on draft ICT policy
The Ugandan government is staging a series of consultative workshops on its draft ICT Policy for the country. Read MoreStakeholders oppose NCC’s lawful interception regulation
Telecoms industry stakeholders have risen up against Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC’s) Draft Lawful Interception of Communications Regulation. Read MoreIbrahim decries lack of initiative
Sudanese telecoms mogul Mo Ibrahim has told delegates at a dinner in Botswana that Africa needs to stop waiting for aid. Read MoreRELATED STORIES
FEATURED STORY
ICT opens doors for Kenyan slum dwellersA Nairobi based group is equipping high school girls from Nairobi's slums with ICT skills to help them participate meaningfully in building the economy.
BEST READ NEWS
IN DEPTH
Betting on the cloudIn Africa, an emerging ICT industry is betting its future on serving customers and businesses through cloud based applications, Riverbed Technology has told Biztechafrica.
COMPANY NEWS
Most powerful and compact Samsung A3 colour and mono copiers announcedSamsung Electronics South Africa has launched its groundbreaking CLX-9201, 9251, and 9301 A3 colour and SCX-8123, CX-8128 A3 mono copiers.