The Department of Communications will host the national broadband policy colloquium on 18 to 19 November 2009, at Gallagher Estate, Midrand. The Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Dina Pule will officially open the colloquium on 18 November 2009. The Minister of Communications General (Ret) Siphiwe Nyanda will deliver closing remarks on 19 November 2009, Thursday.
The Department of Communications developed the draft broadband policy of South Africa which was gazetted on 18 September 2009 for public comment. This process closed in October 2009. The colloquium seeks to afford the public and external stakeholders an opportunity to provide further input on the draft policy and ensure that the policy is widely consulted.
The broadband policy seeks to address the provision of affordable access to broadband infrastructure to citizens, businesses, and government and also stimulate the usage of broadband services in all spheres of government. In 2007, the South African government approved the building of an information society. This decision was based on the outcome of the United Nations World Summit on Information Society. The summit resolved that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructure are the foundation to building an inclusive information society where ICT applications and tools are used for socio-economic development of the country.
The colloquium will be held as follows:
Venue: Gallagher Estate, Midrand
Date: 18 to 19 November 2009
Time: 08h30
To confirm attendance contact:
Richard Mantu
Cell: 072 488 1520
E-mail: richardm@doc.gov.za
For media enquiries contact:
Tiyani Rikhotso
Cell: 083 800 9936
E-mail: tiyani@doc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Communications
17 November 2009
