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Head of Office: Name: Ms. Vuyolwetu Ntshinga Tel: +27 64 816 8294 Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Chief Director: DGO
Name: Ms Pari Pillay
Tel: +27 (12) 427 8160
Cell: +27 (79) 889 0130
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Information Officer:
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Deputy Information Officer:
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Details
SA CONNECT
OVERVIEW
SA Connect is the implementation of the national broadband policy that was approved by Cabinet in 2013. SA Connect seeks to meet the technology goals of the National Development Plan of creating an inclusive information society and position the government to play an enabling role in the provision of broadband to the number of underserved district municipalities thereby bridge broadband connectivity gaps. This would be achieved by the pooling of public sector demand and procuring of high-capacity and future-proof network capacity at more affordable rates to address public sector broadband requirements. And in the process stimulating network builds by the network operators by reducing the associated investment risk, by ensuring demand. Due to the magnitude of the project, the programme was divided into two phases, phase one and phase two.
PHASE 1
In terms of phase one, the programme initially aimed at connecting 6135 government facilities, which include all schools, health facilities, post offices, police stations and government offices, in the eight rural district municipalities, to broadband services. Phase one scope was subsequently reduced to 970 government facilities due to budget constraints.
Government has mandated the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and Broadband Infraco (BBI) to provide the end-to-end broadband services to the 970 government facilities in the eight identified district municipalities, namely (1) Dr Kenneth Kaunda in North West, (2) Thabo Mofutsanyane in Free State, (3) OR Tambo in Eastern Cape, (4) Vhembe in Limpopo, (5) Gert Sibande in Mpumalanga, (6) Pixley ka Seme in Northern Cape, (7) uMgungundlovu and (8) uMzinyathi in KZN. The remaining 5165 facilities that were not provided with broadband service due to the limited budget allocation for the programme will be transferred to phase two of the programme.
Breakdown of Phase 1 connected government facilities:
Maps of the 8 District Municipalities:
SA CONNECT PHASE 2 HITS CRITICAL MILESTONES
While broadband is seen as a powerful tool for economic and social development and for effective and efficient government service delivery, South Africa is still challenged by issues of broadband accessibility, usability, and affordability. South Africa’s terrestrial fibre routes are in excess of 200 000 kilometres. Through Phase 2 of SA Connect programme, additional 1180 kilometres of terrestrial fibre is planned to be deployed to enable coverage of about 5.5 million households.
According to ICASA State of ICT report released in 2024:
Fibre-to-the-home/building internet subscriptions increased from 1 365 429 in 2022 to 1 488 483 in 2023.
National population coverage for 3G stood at 99.40% in 2023. National population coverage for 4G/LTE stood at 80%. National 5G population coverage increased from 20% in 2022 to 38.42% in 2023, marking a substantial increase in a single year.
At the national level, there is 78.9% of universal connectivity, with 82.1% regarded as meaningful connectivity in the ITU database for 2024 report.
In 2021, 69.4% of households nationally had access to the Internet using mobile devices, with the majority of this access accounted for by Households living in urban areas at 73.3%, and metropolitan areas accounting for 73.4%. Mobile devices are also the most used means of accessing the Internet by Households in rural areas, at 59.2%.
SA Connect is a national broadband policy and strategy approved by the Cabinet in 2013. Its aim is to galvanize the public and private sectors' capability, resources, and energy to realize a bold vision of a connected society through accessible, quality, and affordable broadband connectivity. Due to its scale and complexity, the programme was divided into phases: Phase 1, the pilot, and Phase 2.
Phase 1 was implemented in 2017 through an “anchor tenant” approach, providing broadband connectivity to schools, health facilities, and other government facilities in 8 selected districts to stimulate private sector investment in broadband infrastructure.
In 2022, the Cabinet approved the revised SA Connect Phase 2 model to roll out broadband infrastructure to enable connectivity countrywide. The key objective of the revised SA Connect model is to achieve 100% broadband access for all communities and Government facilities. The programme aims to connect South Africans within 36 months (2023/24 – 2025/26) at a minimum speed of 5 Megabits per second (Mbps) for households and 10 Mbps for Government facilities, including public schools and health facilities.
The revised SA Connect model, which is currently being implemented, comprises the following key interventions:
Community and households’
Connectivity of government facilities; and,
Universal Service Obligations.
The SA Connect programme is expected to:
Provide connectivity at a minimum speed of 5 Mbps for households and at 10 Megabit per second (Mbps) for government The speeds are expected to be upgraded in the future.
Leverage universal service obligations to fund the connectivity of schools.
Leverage national, provincial, and municipal budgets to fund government connectivity and the Universal Service Access Fund for subsidies.
Leverage ICT infrastructure owned by non-ICT SOEs, provinces and
Use last-mile providers and internet service providers, including local SMMEs, virtual network providers, to extend connectivity from government facilities to households and create public Wi-Fi hotspots which is inclusive of Broadband Access Fund.
Align with the District Delivery Model and prioritise provinces/district municipalities based on quick wins and the highest impact achievable.
Broadband Infraco and Sentech will, in conjunction with the ICT industry, particularly Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), provide broadband services to South Africans, primarily through the deployment of 32 055 Wi-Fi hotspots, enabling the connectivity of 5 573 258 households over 36 months.
The table below shows the breakdown of WiFi hotspots per province:
Sentech and BBI have deployed around 7 185 Wi-Fi hotspots nationally, providing coverage for 1 250 190 households. The breakdown of the deployment of Wi-Fi hot spots per province in relation to actual targets achieved to date:
SITA has connected Government National and Provincial Departments under SA Connect phase 2. The table below highlight is the current existing sites that are on the SITA Next Generation Network (NGN) that are being sustained.
The Cybersecurity Hub is the national Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), established by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies. The objective of the Cybersecurity Hub is to make Cyberspace an environment where all residents of South Africa can safely communicate, socialise, and transact in confidence. The Cybersecurity Hub works with stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society and the public with a view to identifying and countering cybersecurity threats. In creating the secure Cyberspace, the Cybersecurity Hub initiated Cybersecurity Awareness.
Part of the cybersecurity awareness initiatives was the development of the national cybersecurity awareness. The Awareness Portal is the repository for all Cybersecurity Awareness information and is used for the dissemination of Cybersecurity Awareness programs and information
Other Cybersecurity Awareness initiatives include the following:
Community Radio: Deputy Minister hosts one-hour program at GCIS studios - broadcast on approximately 65 community radio stations, approximately five million people. The first program focused on financial security, with SABRIC as a participant discussing financial security topic
Cyber Schools Toolkit: A Cyber Safety and Awareness Toolkit for school learners was developed, in partnership with UNISA, UK government and its objectives is to promote a cybersecurity mind-set and culture through an educational toolkit
“Qaphela Online” Newsletter: The newsletter is aimed at encouraging South African citizens to be vigilant when surfing the Internet. Various Stakeholders work with the Cybersecurity Hub in developing monthly newsletter focusing on different themes.
Hackathon: The Cybersecurity Hub has been collaborating with a consortium of private sector organisations – including KnowBe4, TrendMicro, BCX, Bi-Technologies, Vox Telecom, NClose, Black Rhino and Bi-Tech Africa - and the University of the Western Cape’s Future-Innovation Lab and hosted a cybersecurity themed hackathon, called the Government Innovation Challenge
The Film and Publications Board was established in terms of Films and Publications Act of 1996 to Regulate the creation, production, possession, and distribution of certain publications and certain films by means of classification, the imposition of age restrictions, and giving of consumer advice.
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Transfer of funds
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Ensures protection of children against premature exposure to adult experiences and harmful materials; provides consumer advice to enable adults to make informed viewing, reading, and gaming choices, for themselves and for children in their care; as well as criminalising child pornography.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa was established by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act (2000) to regulate the South African communications, broadcasting and postal services sectors. The regulator’s mandate is defined in the Electronic Communications Act (2005) as licensing and regulating electronic communications and broadcasting services, and in the Postal Services Act (1998) as regulating the postal services sector
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Transfer of funds
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Monitors licensee compliance with licence terms and conditions, develop regulations for the three sectors, plan and manage the radio frequency spectrum, and protect consumers in relation to these services.
To train previously disadvantaged individuals, particularly women, to equip them with the necessary skills to play significant roles in the constantly changing broadcasting environment.
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Transfer of funds
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Offers hands-on training in the electronic media, including content design and production, technical operations and content transmission. It also provides skills training at an advanced level for the broadcasting industry. National certificates and short courses are also offered.
The mandate of the South African Broadcasting Corporation SOC Limited (SABC) as a public broadcaster is defined in terms of the following statues:
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, No. 108 of 1996;
The Broadcasting Act No. 4 of 1999, as amended;
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act No. 13 of 2002, as amended;
The Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005, as amended.
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Mixture of government funding and self-funding
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Providing public broadcasting and commercial services, whether by analogue or digital means, and providing radio and TV programmes of information, education and entertainment funded by advertising, subscription, sponsorship, licence fees or any other means of finance
To leverage ICT as a strategic resource to enable government to improve service delivery and to meet the challenges faced by a developmental state.
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Transfer of funds
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Provides decentralised, On-Site management & On-Site support to the LAN infrastructure on the client’s environment, but not limiting it to decentralised management & support that encompasses the integrated control, operational support, monitoring and maintenance of the local area network.
The Universal Service and Access Fund was established in terms of section 89 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act (2005).
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Transfer of funds
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
To make payments for subsidies towards the provision of ICT services, as well as the construction or extension of electronic communications for needy person in under-serviced areas.
CONTACT DETAILS
USAASA
USAASA
LEGISLATIVE MANDATE
To manage Universal Service Fund in the promotion of universal service and universal access to electronic communications services, electronic communications networks, and broadcasting services
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Transfer of funds
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Through research USAASA advises on policy matters. Through the disbursement of project subsidies, it actions universal access obligations in under-serviced areas.
To administer, regulate and issues licenses in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (2002)
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Transfer of funds
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
The Domain Name Authority must administer and manage the .za domain name space, comply with international best practice in the administration of the .za domain name space; license and regulate registries and registrars for the respective registries and publish guidelines
Telkom historically evolved as part of the then Department of Posts and Telecommunications that existed prior to the demise of Apartheid.
Telkom was separated from the SAPO Post Office in 1991 during the process of commercialisation of both.The first democratic government that was inaugurated in 1994 determined a need to create a modern telecommunications company to serve the new democratic state and its people.
In order to do this, it was determined that a Strategic Equity Partners was required which would inject skills, capabilities, new technologies and funding to modernize Telkom.
In 1997, a Strategic Equity Partner in the form of Thintana Communications LLC (Thintana), a company registered in the US and a joint venture made up of Telkom Malaysia and SBC Communications was acquired. The Strategic Equity partner acquired 30% of Telkom form the Government of Republic of South Africa.The proceeds from sale of equity to Thintana was reinvested into Telkom in order to modernise the company.
A shareholders agreement to govern Telkom and allocated powers to control Telkom was entered into and codified in the Articles of Association essentially providing for reservation of powers/rights between the parties.
In 2003, an Initial Public Offer (IPO) was made a Telkom was listed both in the New York Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Securities Exchange with the primary listing being at the JSE. At the point of the IPO the shares of Telkom were sold at an initial share price of R27.
In terms of the revised Shareholder’s agreement which was later codified in the Articles of Association the two major shareholder being Government of the Republic of South Africa were deemed significant shareholders and granted a golden share (class shareholding) which entitled them to a reservation of certain rights in the control of Telkom. The golden share among other things entitled each Class Shareholders to appoint specific number of directors and an entitlement to veto certain decisions.
The rights and powers granted by the golden share were to expire on losing the status of being a significant shareholder or upon reaching the eight anniversary of the IPO (March 2011).
Upon completion of the IPO, Government was left with 38.4% shareholding in Telkom, Thintana with 30% and the rest being in the public hands.
In 2004 Thintana reduced its shareholding by selling through a book building exercise to 15.1%.
In 2005, Thintana sold its remaining 15.1% shareholding.
As at 31 March 2011, the shareholding in Telkom was:
The Department amended the initial Digital Migration Policy which sets the parameters of migrating the country’s broadcasting from analogue to digital and meeting the ITU resolutions. Following the amendments to the Digital Migration Policy, in March 2012, Cabinet approved the Scheme for Ownership Support (SOS) of Set Top Boxes (STBs) as well as the STB Manufacturing Sector Development Strategy.
As part of the implementation of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy, the Department will in the 2013/14 financial year focus on, amongst others, increasing national digital coverage, rolling out the Scheme for Ownership Support (SOS), implementing the STB Manufacturing Sector Development Strategy as well as ensure digital migration awareness and provision of technical user support through the establishment of a National BDM Call Centre.
Go Digital South Africa!
The broadcasting environment is going through an amazing change due to the development of digital technology. The Go DIGITAL South Africa leaflet has been developed by the Department of Telecommunications & Postal Services as a means to educate, inform and create awareness about the digital migration or Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).
Background
The Go DIGITAL South Africa is a catch phrase for digital migration processing South Africa. As you may well know, the Television has been in South Africa from 1976. When it started, it was black and white, then evolved to colour television. Due to apartheid, white people owned televisions more than any race in the country. After 1994, the country put in place legislation that ensured broadcasting services that reflected/ represented all South Africans despite of their race or economical status.
Today, 11 million households in South Africa own televisions with programmes in their own languages. The government continues to ensure universal service and access by providing broadcasting services through digital migration process that promises to enhance diversity and access especially for the previously marginalised.
The Benefits of Digital Migration or DTT:
The digital migration process promises more channels, i.e. more programmes like: sports, children, parliamentary, entertainment, music and more vernacular channels which means variety of choice to viewers.
Every citizen irrespective of geographical location, race, and economical status will enjoy access of all free-to-air channels of good quality picture and sound.
On screen Electronic Programming Guide and program synopsis.
Parental guidance and control of programs
Disability services for hard of hearing and sight.
What is Digital Migration?
The digital migration can be defined by two concepts: the switch or migration from analogue and digital signals.
Analogue:
Prior to the 1990s, broadcasting transmitted sound and video through airwaves by analogue signals.
As much as this method worked well, unfortunately it needed a lot of space on the frequency spectrum. Both television and radio are allocated valuable spectrum in each band. This means a different and unique frequency is allocated for each radio and TV service. Clearly a very spectrum inefficient method of delivering multi channels services.
Current scenario
TV or radio channels are allocated frequencies depending on the geographical location.
For example in radio: Metro FM is a national radio, in Gauteng province it is accessed on FM 92.4 which is a radio frequency. Whereas in Durban, Cape Town, and/or any other place in the country, the same radio station is accessed on a different frequency. Effectively that suggests that there is a waste of frequency spectrum.
The same goes for TV channels, they are each allocated a unique frequency allocation per area. Unfortunately to some, this means limited access of broadcasting channels and lack of variety of choice that is enjoyed by others, due to lack or spectrum congestion.
The quality of your TV picture is dependent on the positioning of an antenna and how far you is from a local transmitter site.
In the analogue signal transmission method you can only have 1 radio or TV service per channel and 1 unique frequency. TV transmission, be it analogue or digital uses the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency) bands.
Digital:
Digital: Post 1990s, the new dawn of digital broadcasting, where sound, video, text and still images can be transmitted in the form of binary digits i.e. ones and zeros. This technology allows for information to be compressed thus saving radio spectrum. Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) is like Digital satellite, but DTT uses ground based (terrestrial) digital transmitters to distribute the signals to your home.
Due to the benefits of digital transmissions, soon to be launched in South Africa, we all benefit.
For each unique frequency in analogue – or 1 TV service we now with digital in the same spectrum, can transmit 15 standard definition TV services.
Digital is highly spectrum efficient. In the same geographical area, all TV transmitters can operate on the same frequency without interference.
Clearly, after analogue switch-off a huge portion of valuable spectrum will be released back to ICASA, which is the ICT sector regulator.
The home user will require a simple decoder that converts the digital signal to analogue for their TV set. NO new TV set is required.
After digital migration is completed, the spare spectrum can be reused for other services of national interest.
Having explained the two concepts (analogue and digital) above, digital migration is a process of moving from the analogue to the digital broadcasting for TV and radio. South Africa will only start with television and only later will consider digital radio.
TV programs can be distributed to the home user by terrestrial, satellite and cable transmissions. In SA we use digital satellite and soon digital terrestrial. Cable delivery is now via Internet Protocol (IP TV–internet) but this is very limited due to bandwidth access and constraints currently.
Definition of Terrestrial and Satellite TV:
Terrestrial television uses a network of transmission towers to relay the signal across the country. Each transmission tower has a specific area of coverage, and it is the network of coverage that provides television signals across the country. If you are within an area covered by a tower, then you will be able to receive broadcast services from that tower.
Satellite television broadcasting uses a satellite which is in orbit above the earth. The broadcasting signals are sent to the satellite and viewers receive the signal via a satellite dish.
DTT Information Call CentreTel. 012 421-7210 or 012 421-7211
South Africa's overall policy objective is to make spectrum available on a basis that is as technology neutral as practicable, and to achieve Radiocommunication recommendations that will facilitate implementation of South Africa's spectrum management policy and practice.
South Africa promotes these objectives through the participation of its delegations in international and regional radiocommunications fora.
The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, (DTPS) has overall responsibility for South African involvement in ATU and ITU management policy. At a domestic level the ICASA is mandated to by the ICASA Act 13 of 2000, sub-section 4(3)(c) to manage the radio-frequency spectrum in accordance with bilateral agreements or international treaties entered into by the Republic.
The DTPS has established a standing National Preparatory Working Group (NPWG) to prepare for World Radiocomminucation Conferences (WRCs). This consultative process is facilitated through the Department in conjunction with ICASA. The intention is to provide guidance on the development of briefs, positions and input contribution documents in preparation for ITU-R and ATU radiocommunication related meetings.
This process has served South Africa very well over many years where industry representatives have made extensive contributions to the development of South African delegation briefs, contributions, and participation in South African delegations to regional and international meetings.
Any conclusions, positions, and proposals developed in the NPWG and its working groups are not binding unless they conform to an already existing national policy position. All conclusions, positions, and proposals developed by these groups are recommendations to the DTPS and are generally non-binding positions and subject to formal endorsement by the Minister.
The group’s responsibilities with regards to WRC include:
• the development of advice and recommendations, as necessary, to the NPWG and DTPS on WRC related matters; • managing the development of South Africa’s positions and proposals on WRC agenda items; • harmonizing positions and proposals within the African region and other regions; and • reviewing agenda items for subsequent WRCs and other non Study Group related agenda items.
Aims to tackle cybersecurity holistically, addressing legal, technical, organizational and procedural issues as well as capacity building and international cooperation.
Our children are our future. This universal fact, coupled with young people’s particular
Vulnerability in an online environment, made a specialized initiative within the larger GCA framework a necessity.
The legal, technical and institutional challenges posed by the issue of cybersecurity are global and far-reaching and can only be addressed through a coherent strategy taking into account the role of different stakeholders and existing initiatives, within a framework of an international collaborative network. Children are among the most active – and most vulnerable – participants online. ITU’s motto is "committed to connecting the world", but we are also committed to connecting the world responsibly. That means working together to ensure cyber security, enable cyber peace, and – perhaps most importantly – protect children online.
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