BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY IN SOUTH AFRICA Harold Wesso Ph.D Acting Director General: Department of Communications Acting CEO: e-skills Institute GovTech September 2010
CONTENTS Context Broadband Penetration Building the Information Society/ Knowledge Economy Responding to National Development Goals. 2
The Emergence of the Information Age e-world u- World
Connectivity and Economic Growth With 10% increase in high-speed internet connections economic growth increases by 1.3% - World Bank For every 1% increase in a country s internet penetration, GDP per capita increases US$493 and 1% increase in mobile penetration results in a per capita increase of US$240 Telecom Management, 2010 increased broadband penetration will lift the country s GDP by between 0.5% and 2,5% - Australian report, 2010 4
SA Broadband Penetration: 2008 Global Comparison South Africa, 1.6% 5
SA Broadband Penetration: 2010 6
ICT Household Penetration 2010 Cellphone Landline Total Internet Dial-up (Narrowband ) ADSL Source: AMPS, 2009 Household, BMI-T 2010 Wireless and Mobile ( WAP, 3G, Edge, GPRS) Eastern Cape 81.4% 8.4% 7.1% 1.0% 2.5% 3.6% Free State 78.7% 8.6% 4.6% 1.2% 0.7% 2.7% Gauteng 93.1% 20.6% 20.3% 4.8% 6.8% 8.8% Kwazulu-Natal 87.8% 16.8% 10.9% 2.2% 4.3% 4.4% Limpopo 87.1% 4.4% 2.0% 0.8% 0.1% 1.1% Mpumalanga 94.0% 7.4% 6.7% 1.3% 2.2% 3.2% Northern Cape 54.5% 10.2% 5.0% 1.9% 0.9% 2.1% North-West 84.7% 9.6% 4.2% 0.9% 1.2% 2.0% Western Cape 91.2% 39.6% 16.0% 2.3% 7.3% 6.4% SA Average 86.9% 15.4% 10.7% 2.2% 3.8% 4.7%
International links 8
A View Fast, always on internet is the key to ensuring that we become an Information Society. Unfortunately legislation has made this a luxury only afforded to the privileged few. But there ARE easy solutions. Legalise self provisioning, make the open use of WiFi for last mile access legal and open the telecoms market. Business will take care of the rest. C. Christian, 2006 9
BUILDING THE INFORMATION SOCIETY/KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY Society: Urban/ Rural Institutions Services ICT Infrastructure LAN LAN... depends on to get to built from multiple C O N T E N T C R E A T I O N
How is the IDI calculated? 40% 40% 20% Source: ITU. 2009. Measuring the Information Society: The ICT Development Index. Geneva Switzerland.
Networked Readiness Index (Centre for International Development, Harvard University) Network Use: extent of ICT proliferation in a country Internet users per 100 inhabitants Cellular subscribers per 100 Internet users per host Percentage of computers connected to the Internet Availability of public access to the Internet Enabling Factors Network Access (Information Infrastucture and Hardware, Software, and Support) Network Policy (ICT Policy, Business and Economic Environment) Networked Society (Networked learning (skills), ICT opportunities, Social Capital) Networked Economy (e-commerce, e-government, General Infrastructure ** The evidence gathered to date indicates that a high score on Enabling Factors contribute to high levels of Network Use 12
National Goals & Objectives (MTSF) Strengthen the skills and human resource base Speed up growth and transforming the economy to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods Comprehensive development strategy linked to land and agrarian reform and food security Intensify the fight against crime and corruption: Build cohesive caring and sustainable communities: Pursue African advancement and enhanced international cooperation: Build a developmental state including the improvement of public services and strengthening democratic institutions. 13
THANK YOU 14