95% broadband coverage for Gauteng: Premier

Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane aims to achieve 95% broadband coverage in the province in an effort to narrow the digital divide and grow the economy.

In her address at the opening of the Gauteng Legislature in Tshwane on Monday, Mokonyane said the focus for the year ahead would be primarily on accelerating delivery with a strong emphasis on concrete deliverable programmes.

“The G-link Project is central to our efforts to build the knowledge economy as a driver of development and make Gauteng a Smart Province. The project aims at achieving 95% broadband coverage in the province to narrow the digital divide, roll out e-government services and grow the economy. The work currently underway seeks to roll out network infrastructure between 2012 and 2014,” Mokonyane said.

She said that the department would partner with the national Department of Communication and City of Johannesburg to develop a Smart City at Nasrec in Johannesburg, a multi-disciplinary ICT development that aims to create sustainable economic activities through the use of ICT to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of ICT.

“We will establish the Climate Innovation Centre (CIC) and a Bio-Science Park at the Innovation Hub to help entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize green technologies that will assist disadvantaged communities.

“Together with universities and the ICT sector we are developing an ICT skills development programme that will position Gauteng as South Africa’s centre of ICT skills development,” Mokonyane said.