South Africa’s Communications Minister Yunus Carrim is in the midst of driving the finalisation of the much-needed National Broadband Policy. The intention of the policy is to ensure universal service, reliable communications, digital inclusion, the deployment of broadband countrywide at reduced cost and to clarify the roles of the SOEs and the private sector in developing ‘world-class broadband infrastructure’.

The draft policy (and revised ‘not for circulation’ version used in an October workshop on the policy) details the formation of an “open access national wholesale broadband network that will use available existing and new fibre and high-speed wireless networks as the base from which to extend broadband access across the country. This will be accompanied by a regulatory regime that ensures that principles of open access are applied to ensure that access is open to any operator or service provider on a cost-based, non-discriminatory basis. This enables the pooling of infrastructure owned by the state and by other private entities that wish to be part of the wholesale access network, avoiding unnecessary duplication of infrastructure where it already exists, leveraging public and private capital for high-cost network extension and creating conditions conducive to services-based competition. This will address the current pent-up demand for affordable broadband services in the country.”