Programme Director, Deputy Minister Dina Pule
Honourable Minister of Police, Mr Mthethwa
Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Motsoaledi
Provincial Members of the Executive Council present
Chairperson and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications present
Chairperson of ICASA and his team
Director Generals and Acting Director General present today
National Police and Provincial Commissioners present
National and Provincial Heads of Department Heads present
Chairperson and Board Members of Operators and SOEs present
Chief Executive Officers of Operators and SOEs
Captains of the information communication technology (ICT) Industry
Members of the media
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Let me welcome you to the Department of Communications. Today we are embarking on a process that will continue to confirm information communication technology’s (ICT’s) contribution towards the government’s developmental agenda.
MTN, Vodacom and Cell C has been providing 3G (third generation) services to some of their customers and also extended coverage to some parts of our country for more than six to four years respectively. Access to these services continues to change business and societal attitudes, but most importantly those that are not provided with communications services continue to be marginalised and must be avoided.
Programme Director and Ministers
Cell C, MTN and Vodacom were required as a collective to deliver the following obligations; provide 250 000 mobile units and four million SIM cards to the Department of Communications, whom in return would identify and allocate the same to nominated beneficiaries within government. In addition they will provide internet connectivity to public schools and institutes of people with disability, provide specialised terminal equipment to institutes of people with disability. All these obligations were tied-up with the granting of 3G (third generation) spectrum to provide services to the people of South Africa.
There have been several identified challenges in the past that were a barrier to the implementation and delivery of these obligations. There was no proper co-ordination of all roles players by the authorities. Some of the identified schools had no proper infrastructure such as electricity and secured classrooms. The provision of internet services to schools at an E-Rate which were identified as an alternative affordable payment rate for schools proved to be a challenge.
It was noted that some of the schools are still not able to afford to pay the discounted rate. In addition there was no proper monitoring and evaluation of the deliverables. There was no inventory of clinics and hospitals that required telecommunications connections which were provided to operators. No operational and capability specifications were developed and presented to operators for the mobile units.
Programme Director and Ministers, Director-General and distinguished guests
I have since engaged with Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) and the operators to seek a sustainable solution to ensure that these essential obligations are implemented. To that effect, a Project Implementation Team (PIT) has been established consisting of members from the Department of Communications, Universal Service Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA), ICASA, MTN, Cell C, Vodacom, Neotel and Telkom. It is envisaged that nominated beneficiaries will also form part of the PIT. The PIT is coordinated and managed by my office. The economical value of spectrum cannot be underestimated. It is therefore important that policy directives and determinations are adhered to at all times.
Programme Director and Ministers
During my 2010 budget vote speech, I announced that my ministry has reached an agreement with operators to commence with the implementation of the outstanding obligations. Out of the 250 000 mobile units due for distribution, 80,000 are being delivered today as part of the agreed implementation plan. They will be distributed to the nominated beneficiaries, that is, Ministries of Police and Health. These units will be allocated to officials who will be part of the FIFA 2010 World Cup soccer operations. This forms part of the Department of Communications contribution towards the world cup event in support of the safety and emergency services operations and the government 10 points delivery programme.
A dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) will be established to manage and monitor programme and report to me on monthly basis. Funding of the PMU is been discussed with operators to ensure sustainability and continuity. Of note is that here will be provincial representatives in the PMU. Inclusion of provincial representatives will assist in ensuring that pre and post-inspections at schools, police stations, clinics and hospitals are conducted in order to assess the impact of the delivery of operator’s obligations.
Programme Director and Ministers
We are responsible to ensure that ensure that Governments Programme of Action (POA) must be achieved. In this regard, I have committed the Department of Communications to ensure that Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) programmes continues to plays a meaningful and pivotal role in support of the POA. ICTs remain catalysts to service delivery in all spheres of Government including private sector and society as a whole. Therefore, service obligations remain as one of the key factors used for expanding telecommunications networks in our economy, especially with regards to the rural areas of our country.
This allocation of mobile units will make a meaningful contribution to the police and heath officers operations. Ownership of these units remains government property unless determined otherwise by the respective ministers. Commercial agreements will be entered into between beneficiaries and operators, whilst the Department of Communications will continue to facilitate and ensure that government and communities benefits from such obligations.
We have on numerous occasions raised concerns that we are unable in some instance to provide up to date statistics in relations to crime scenes, number of HIV patients and the sick, particularly in rural areas. This allocation provides an opportunity to assign units to our officials in these areas to assist them as communication tool for speedy and reliable information.
Programme Director and Ministers
This programme further provides me with an opportunity to determine and channel obligations where they are mostly required. The operators have an obligation through the use of spectrum to ensure that coverage is not only extended where they prefer but must simultaneously ensure that communities are provided with services and coverage. Should there be infrastructure gaps; operators must begin to consider permanent infrastructure sharing principles, not on ad hoc basis.
The successful delivery of this programme requires partnership not only among operators but also with all spheres of Government. Such partnerships will address among others, challenges that relates to approval processes of high sites. Infrastructure roll out is dependent on some critical factors that requires municipality interventions in terms of their respective by-laws. We should at all time strive to fast track our decision making processes not to impact on our service delivery plans, tele-density and coverage reach for all communities.
As indicated earlier, today’s deliverables only address part of the total obligations imposed on operators. We will soon be engaging with Sentech and iBurst to ensure that they also deliver their share as expected with regards to connectivity of schools. Let me inform you that a team consisting of my Deputy Minister, Dina Pule and Deputy Ministers from Basic Education, Higher Education and Training are addressing the matter of school connectivity.
Programme Director and Ministers
Currently the PIT in its determination to ensure that all obligations are met within our prescribed time frame will convene a workshop. The purpose of this workshop we will be discussing the overall USO obligation including consideration of inclusion of all Electronic Communications Network Service (ECNS) licensees to the programme.
This will work towards ensuring that a collective effort is made by all licensees to close all communications gaps especially for our marginalised communities. Finally, let me commend all of our industry role players for the continued support they are giving to my department in our joint endeavour to provide an accessible and affordable telecommunication services to all of our people.
Good luck to the police and the health team who will be manning the FIFA 2010 stadiums. I am certain that communications will ensure greater vigilance, efficiency and combat readiness for this historic occasion.
Halala Bafana Bafana – Ke Nako!
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Communication
8 June 2010
