Minister of telecommunications and postal services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele, has requested government approval for a R1.59 billion budget for the department.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Parliament on Wednesday (16 July), Cwele presented a budget vote ‘signifying a more focused attention on infrastructure roll-out, the creation and acceleration of the expansion of e-government services’, and the co-ordination and streamlining of public entities in the sector.<\/p>\n
Through the Strategic Integrated Project (SIP)-15, Cwele said that focus would also be put on local production of content and manufacturing, research and innovation, content and applications development, ICT skills and human resources development.<\/p>\n
It would also focus on funding for the roll-out of broadband infrastructure, coordination across governments and the private sector as well as broadcasting digital migration.<\/p>\n
The minister also pointed to better e-Government platforms. “Our objective is to provide and maintain transversal information systems and develop e-Government platforms, for use by departments to deliver services online to citizens.”<\/p>\n
He said that through South African State Information Technology Agency (SITA), over the next five years, a significant number of government services will be available online.<\/p>\n
Cwele also cautioned against over-reliance on mobile broadband as it will not be sufficient for ensuring effective e-service delivery.<\/p>\n
He said that the Department will finalise, by October, a study on the Open Access Network “that will inform how critical resources can be leveraged to ensure a competitive and open market that will unleash competition to drive down the cost to communicate in South Africa’.<\/p>\n
The minister noted that telecommunications revenues in SA, grew to approximately R179 billion in 2011, and is expected to increase to R187 billion by 2016.<\/p>\n
“I urge the house to approve this Budget Vote of the department of communications of R1.59 billion,” Cwele told Parliament.<\/p>\n
Implement ICT priorities more rapidly: minister<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n