Development, Universal Access and Governance in South Africa

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Development, Universal Access and Governance in
South Africa

• CPSR Symposium One Planet, One Net - The Public
  Interest in Internet Governance Boston, 10th -
  11th October 1998.
• Tracy Cohen, Part-time lecturer
• Telecommunications Law, Wits Law School
• Assistant to Council, SATRA
• The views expressed do not necessarily represent
  the views of SATRA, its Council or any of its
  employees.
• The views expressed in this presentation are mine
  and do not necessarily represent the views of
  SATRA, its Council or any of its employees.
  
  
  

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Areas of focus

• Context and Vitals
• Definitions Universal Service v. Universal
  Access
• Universal Access in South Africa
• Poverty
• Telecommunications Teledensity
• Internet Penetration on the Continent
• Governance
• Policy and Legislation
• Role of the Regulator
• Issues

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South Africa
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Definitions - Dedicated service v. reasonable
access

• Universal Service
• 3 Components - Availability, Affordability,
  Accessibility -ITU
• affordable, access to basic voice telephony or
  its equivalent for all those reasonably
  requesting it, regardless of where they live.
  
  - Oftel
• Universal Access
• all of the above, BUT communal and within a
  reasonable distance
• Definition depends on the nature of the market
• Definition informed by technical, social,
  political considerations e.g. RDP

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Universal Access in South Africa

• Poverty
• 36 of all households below the HSL
• HSL R1050/month (180)
• Poorest 20 hh (27 pop) lt3 total income
• Richest 20 hh (3 pop) gt65 total income
• Telecommunications Teledensity
• 2.8 million residential lines
• 1.5 million business lines
• 28 000 farm lines
• 90 000 Public Pay Phones
• National average 9
• Richer areas 50
• Poorer areas 0.001

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The Phone Gap
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In Summary

• 8.7 million households in SA
• 2.8 million have telephones
• 55 of the 2.8 million are in white households
• 5.9 million households have no phones
• 2.1 million households have NO ACCESS to a
  telephone within 5kms of their home

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SA - ISP Industry Structure
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Internet in Africa Source Mike Jensen, AISI
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Cost Comparative Source Mike Jensen, AISI
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The role of Governance in delivering Universal
Access in SA

• Universal access requires regulation aimed at
  balancing economic growth and social/policy
  objectives
• History, Policy and legislation -
  Telecommunications Act No. 103 of 1996
• State institutions supporting universal access
• SATRA
• The public interest - Telkom v Internet Service
  Providers Association, 1997
• The Universal Service Agency
• Lifespan - 5 years
• Universal Service Fund - Section 59
• Administered by the USA subject to the control of
  SATRA
• Department of Communications
• Multimedia Projects/ Public Access Projects

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A nations wealth is correlated with its telecom
infrastructure Source Formus SA
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Issues

• Infrastructure
• Sub-Saharan Africa teledensity - lt1 in 200
• Analogue, unreliable network, urban concentration
• Affordability and Costs
• Services - basic or advanced
• Sustainability
• Social
• Economic
• Infrastructural Priorities
• Literacy and Language Hegemony
• Software solutions

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Conclusion

• Regime is irrelevant - other factors are the
  determinants.
• Socially positive role and purpose of regulation
  
• State has a role in ensuring universal access
  (more so under the exclusivity model?)
• USF Ceiling of R20 Million/year must be raised -
  post exclusivity
• Public/private sector partnerships will be vital
  to success
• International and regional co-operation is
  crucial
• Degree of success correlates proportionately to
  degree of sufficient political will, systematic
  planning and co-ordination

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Contact Details

• E-mail Cohet_at_satra.gov.za
• Post SATRA, Private Bag X1, Marlboro,
  
  Sandton,
  2063, South Africa
• Tel [phone]

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Useful Sites

• http//www.satra.org.za/
• http//www3.wn.apc.org/africa/mj.htm
• http//www.sangonet.org.za/
• http//wn.apc.org/technology/
• http//demiurge.wn.apc.org/africa/projects.htm
• http//www.doc.org.za/
• http//www.telecom98.co.za/
• http//www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/AS.html

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Snapshot - SA Industry Structure
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Governance Regulation?

• Fact Government involvement in the creation and
  extension of services
• Regulation aims to achieve
• the delivery of basic services
• acceptable ranges and quality of services
• fair competition
• facilitate economic growth and global
  competitiveness
• Regulation is aimed at balancing economic growth
  and social/policy objectives
• Universal Access requires regulation

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24 Months Ago
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Africa - Continental Connectivity Indicators
- Source Mike Jensen, AISI

• 46/54 Countries and territories in Africa have
  Internet access in the Capital cities
• 6 Countries have plans for full Internet access
  in the capital cities
• 2 Countries remain without plans for full
  Internet access
• 7 Countries have only one full public access ISP
  after 12 months
• 11 Countries have local ISPs or POPs in some
  secondary towns
• 10 Countries have local dial-up Internet access
  nationwide

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Comparatively Speaking Source Mike Jensen,
AISI