Kathy Gibson reports from SATNAC 2014 – SA Connect, the policy for universal and affordable broadband access to all South Africans, is well underway and on track to achieve its goal of 100% penetration by 2020.

This is the word from Dr Siyabonga Cwele, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, speaking this morning at the SATNAC 2014 conference in Port Elizabeth

He points out that universal broadband has the potential to fight poverty and inequality; and will be one of the key job drivers in the next few years.

“As a nation we are guided by the National Development Plan (NDP), which commits us to the growth of an ICT industry,” he says. “Broadband has been identified as an enabler.

“Through SA Connect, government will co-ordinate the rollout of broadband services across the country to achieve 100% penetration by 2020,” Cwele adds. “This will enable government to improve its service delivery and offer more services.

“It is one way of ensuring that we radically transform our society.”

Cabinet adopted SA Connect in December 2013 and has since established the National Broadband Advisory Council to leverage partnerships in the industry.

“We have also set up the policy review process aim to release an options document in the next few months to take into account public responses to the green paper and additional research,” Cwele says. “We expect to release a white paper by the end of this financial year (March 2015).”

Within the near-term, Cwele says he department hopes to resolve spectrum shortages.

In terms of leveraging investment in SA Connect, the national government is working with municipalities to facilitate alignment across the three spheres of government.

“This is crucial as are seek funding to connect clinics, schools, police stations and other government office,” Cwele says. “This is the foundation of government plans to make broadband accessible to all South Africans.”