Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi
Millions of South Africans can ready themselves for e-government services that will unlock access to basic internet services and digital information. No longer will the information revolution exist only in the domain of those who can afford it. The government’s Digital Migration Policy will see a rollout of public services channels for youth, women, education and eGovernment services, including low-income households.
Addressing the ICT summit, Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi was animated about the impact of ICT and the world of communication it brings, particularly digital broadcasting as South Africa switches this year from analogue to digital.
“The process of unlocking digital information is well advanced and the migration process will begin to take shape in the next few months,” said Muthambi. “Later this year we will be launching our digital migration awareness campaign in the Free State to explain the benefits of digital television, beginning with the rollout of set-top-boxes (STBs) to identified poor households and areas bordering Lesotho, which may experience broadcast interference.
“There are people who struggle in certain areas where the television signal is poor quality and the STBs should really make a difference.”
The minister also said the department is concluding and signing bilateral memorandums of understanding with Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland in order to minimise cross-border radio frequency spectrum interference.
Muthambi explained that Cabinet has approved government providing free STBs to the five million households that cannot afford to buy these, and in keeping with government’s policy to grow small businesses, STB installation companies will be drawn from local communities in the Free State, creating work opportunities for the youth to enter the ICT sector.
“The migration will release valuable spectrum which will allow for more television channels, and will also result in job creation in the communication and creative industry sectors and better quality broadcasting.
“The ICT sector continues to lead the way in uncovering new frontiers. Governments all over the world are grappling with how to use ICT to the betterment of their people and we too must find ways to make ICT work for all South Africans. We dare not allow a new divide to develop between those with access and those who don’t enjoy access to information and technology,” said Muthambi.
“[The] recently released Statistics South Africa General Household Survey 2014 shows that 48.7% of South African households had at least one member who had access to or used the internet either at home, work, place of study or internet cafés. It also found that only one-tenth of households had access to the internet at home, and predictably access is much more pervasive in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.
“While these statistics are encouraging on the one hand, they are deeply troubling on the other. Too many of our citizens are still denied access to information and the life-changing benefits it brings. Government, in partnership with industry and civil society, has to find ways to make ICT relevant and accessible to more South Africans. The roll out of free wi-fi across large metropolitan areas is a start, but we cannot stop there.”
The minister said it is the duty as national and provincial government to ensure an enabling environment for communication services to contribute more effectively towards improving people’s lives in the workplace, in their homes and communities.
“We must create platforms for South Africans to access information, education and cultural content in the language or languages of their choice. We are a caring and listening government, therefore we must find ways to use technology to give citizens a greater voice in determining their service needs.”
It was also said that the process of ensuring that ICT is used to improve service delivery cannot be a one-way street. Muthambi said that the media sector plays a key economic, social and cultural role in bridging the gap between government and citizens, and new technologies are transforming the media landscape as well as creating new opportunities for the ICT industry. However, this growing synergy between traditional media, internet and social media has highlighted the need to address the twin issues of ownership and content in both print and broadcasting media.
“Since the advent of democracy, the print media in particular has remained dominated by a few companies, with insignificant participation by historically-disadvantaged individuals and companies. Management, control and influence on content must be diversified to allow new market entrants,” said Muthambi.
“We intend to develop policies and strategies that will alter the media industry so that it more accurately reflects the aspirations of the public. These will include, among others, the development of a media transformation policy and a community media support strategy. This is to strengthen government’s current commitment to support community media through capacity building, infrastructure and advertising.
“Content development that reflects the South African story — particularly news, language, information and analysis — will continue to inform the key principles underpinning our policy and legislative work.”
Muthambi said government has already identified the communications sector as a critical growth sector, with the National Development Plan recognising that the ongoing development of quality communications infrastructure, services, content and applications is key to the rapid economic, social and cultural development of the country.
“I have no doubt that sustained investment will give rise to greater innovation and development of the ICT sector, to the benefit of us all.”
In conclusion, Muthambi said: “South Africans are crying out for information and the social and economic benefit it brings. Let us not leave our people wanting. Let us use this summit as a platform to build an ICT legacy that will help to unleash the inherent educational, social and economic capital of our people.”