The SMME Forum, a body that represents small business, has given its backing to Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri on the issue of self-provisioning. It has, however, accused industry players of hypocrisy for criticising the minister on this issue.
The minister last month said value added network service (Vans) entities would not be allowed to self-provide telecommunications facilities. However, according to some information and communications technology (ICT) enterprises, self-provisioning is vital in a deregulated telecommunications landscape.
“Surely those criticising the minister would have — justifiably — been amongst the first to level some of the fiercest criticism against her had she allowed Vans to self-provide, since this would have destabilised the market. And they would have been correct in doing so. However, the Minister was right in ensuring that there is clarity and certainty in the telecommunications sector,” SMME president Tebogo Khaas said on Monday.
“In any event, the Telecommunications Act, in its current form, does not allow for Vans to self-provide. Had she allowed Vans to self-provide, the minister would have faced the very real possibility of litigation.”
Turning to industry players that criticised the minister for not giving Vans operators more powers, Khaas said: “These self-anointed spokespeople of the ICT consumers are the worst hypocrites. Their track record on issues affecting ICT access in black communities is acute in its absence. Instead of criticising the minister for her resolve and fortitude, they leave themselves to being accused of not being in line with government’s efforts to create jobs and contribute towards bridging the digital divide currently afflicting those in the previously disadvantaged communities.”
Citing a recent study conducted by Intuit, Khaas said connect-density (the degree to which access to ICTs and the internet per capita) remains the lowest in black residential and business areas.
“Further, research of the ISP sub-sector shows that the industry is still lily-white and is still deeply perceived by most blacks in the ICT sector as intransigent. More than 85% of the sector is still white-owned and controlled,” he lamented.
“Whilst we are correct to complain about lack of competition for Telkom, it may also be worth noting that there currently is not a single ISP or Vans operator providing services from townships and other under-serviced areas.” – I-Net Bridge