Closing Remarks by the Deputy Minister of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Honourable Prof. Hlengiwe Mkhize
During The Occasion of GovTech Executive Leadership Workshop
At Gallagher Estate, Midrand
30 October 2016

Theme: “Towards An Inclusive Digital Agenda”

Introduction
Programme director, I will start by commending the executives who took their time and made it a point that they become part and parcel of today’s discussions. This is part of our participative democracy for the betterment of our people’s lives. Policy development and discussions should not only be limited to policy makers but should be inclusive of the views of other sects in our society.

We have as a department recently approved the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper, which in our view will set out a framework of how as the government we want to provide access to modern telecommunications infrastructure and services to facilitate the entry of new players and meaningful participation of all citizens, including the poorest of the poor from remote rural areas.

Towards An Inclusive Digital Agenda
The theme for this workshop, “Towards an Inclusive Digital Agenda”, talks precisely to our concerted efforts towards the promotion of universal service and access as well as building an inclusive digital society.
Within the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper, we have identified supply side measures which impacts directly on competition in the sector and access to ICT infrastructure by new players as well as the small and emerging businesses.

The supplyside measures that we have put in place are:

i. Open Access Regime Policy
ii. Radio Frequency Spectrum Policy
iii. Rapid Deployment Policy
iv. New Licensing Framework
v. Internet

Execution of these policies will assist us to promote growth in the ICT sector whilst at the same time we ensure that quality services provided over world class infrastructure is provided to our people.
One of the bold steps that we are going to take in order to move rapidly towards achieving an inclusive digital agenda is through the replacement of the Universal Service and Access Fund with the Digital Development Fund. The fund will focus on the extension of infrastructure, end user and equipment subsidies, supporting digital literacy and skill development, funding to extend access to digital government services, and support for innovative use by SMMEs in the ICT sector to improve productivity, sustainability and competitiveness. This fund is critical in the exploitation of digital opportunities in the Creative Industries sector through emerging digital technologies.
The proliferation of devices presents a unique opportunity each day for our youth and SMMEs, advantage should therefore be taken to utilize the fund to finance these business opportunities.

Social Benefits of an Inclusive Digital Agenda
The combination of the prevalence of divices and high speed Internet connectivity bears not only economic benefits but also social benefits which will ensure inclusion and empowerment of our vulnerable groups such as women, children and people with disabilities.

Research conducted by the World Bank Group in preparation of their ICT Strategy 2012-2015, made a finding that social media empowers women to participate in public processes, strengthening their voices in society. ICTs help women to move freely, exercise control over resources, make decisions in the family, and free themselves from risk of violence. Access to the very social media platforms is made possible by these devices.

Transformation of Government Service Delivery
An inclusive digital society equally benefits government as much as it does to society. The thorough use of ICTs will transform public service delivery across sectors; ranging from health, education, social protection, justice, agriculture, water, energy, and transport at all levels of government.
ICTs also gives us an opportunity to modernize public service management by capturing information efficiently in shared databases accessible to all government agencies. Administrative procedures will be simplified and services such as the payment of municipal rates or traffic fines will be simplified.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we should not forget the journery that we took as a country and an industry in the quest of better ICT services for our people. Although we started with a few challenges especially as a developing country, the future is promising.

As we prepare ourselves for the finalisation of our relentless efforts towards closing the digital divide and getting into the inclusive digital agenda, we need to prepare to fully embrace the following developments in the sector:

• The 4th Industrial revolution which builds upon the digital revolution of the last century. This is characterized by an availability of technologies including the Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing that is revolutionizing industries across the globe.
• We need to prepare our citizenry for 5G networks which promises to deliver speeds of up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps), which is 40 times faster than the current maximum speeds achievable on 4G.

With this in mind and taking into consideration our deliberations on the high-impact initiatives that can drive uptake of digital and mobile services, we need to constantly keep in mind the multiple levels of ICT use. We need to make sure that at all levels the user experience is enhanced.
I am confident that the suggestions that came out of this workshop will assist us as government to strengthen our inclusive ICT service delivery, covering even the most remote areas.

I thank you.