The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Siyabonga Cwele welcomes the launch of Telkom’s Openserve, a wholesale and networks company.
“This development will accelerate the implementation of the open access policy that will allow access to critical infrastructure by all licenced operators, reduce barriers to entry to the market and allow infrastructure sharing, thereby reducing duplication of infrastructure. In the end, it could lead to a faster deployment of broadband infrastructure and services to reach all areas of the country, reduce the cost to communicate and ensure access to affordable data and other electronic communications,” said Minister Cwele said.
Another benefit of an open access environment is that it could facilitate the entry of new players, especially black participants in one of the key sectors of the economy.
“The recent National General Council of the ANC reaffirmed the ANC’s position that Government should create an open access environment in the ICT sector in order to drive the uptake and use of ICTs as part of accelerating radical socio-economic transformation and facilitate greater social inclusion. An open access environment could create space for the emergence of black industrialists in ICTs,” said Cwele.
Minister recognised that Telkom’s decision is leading the industry in align itself with what Government has been calling for in the area of ICT policy options. He challenged other telecommunications operators to also align themselves with the call.
Enquiries:
Siya Qoza
Cell: 082 898 1657
E-mail: siya@dtps.gov.za
