Plan to subsidise smartphones for elderly

MANZINI – Government has set itself an ambitious plan of providing subsidised smartphones and specialised technological devices for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

This is beause the country strives to adopt digital technologies.

This is contained in the Eswatini Digitalisation Strategy 2023/2028, which was developed by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), under the leadership of Minister Savannah Maziya.

When developing the strategy, which is already being implemented, the ministry put in place short, medium and long-term goals. The duration of the short-term goals is zero to six months, while the medium and long-term plans are seven to 16 months and 19 to 60 months, respectively.

Under the short-term goals (zero to six months), the ministry will improve connectivity by improving fibre access in Manzini, Matsapha, Ezulwini and Mbabane, and revamp the government microwave network. It also says this connectivity should include schools and the ministry has already started the rollout.

In terms of the internet, the ministry

envisions putting in place an international bandwidth from 35 to 40Mbps and government bandwidth from 60 to 1Gbps within six months.

Laptops

Again, regarding end-user devices, within the same period, the strategy says government will distribute 23 laptops/tablets to health practitioners, provide specialised technological devices to the elderly and people with disabilities and deliver computers to schools. Both processes are already underway. Over and above that, within the six-month period, government is expected to upgrade at least 25 2G

sites to 4G and commission a new government network core.

Regarding the medium-term goal (seven to 18 months), the strategy says the government plans to install improved fibre access in all towns in the country, connect at least 60 schools through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Broadband for schools project and put in place a communication solution for government.

In terms of the internet, the strategy says between seven and 18 months, government should install an international bandwidth from 35 to 60Mbps

and complimentary public Wi-Fi in all the 59 tinkhundla centres and high-traffic areas. On the other hand, regarding end-of-user devices, within seven to 19 months, government should subsidise smartphones and continue to deliver computers to schools.

Upgraded

Also, it says 20 more 2G sites should be upgraded to 4G, build smart city and platforms in Mbabane and upgrade government Network Operating Centres (NOC).

Moreover, in the long-term goals (19 to 60 months), in terms of connectivity, government should expand fibre access connections to the home – fibre to the home (FTTH) and connect at least 150 schools through the ITU Broadband for schools project.

Also, it says government should build a smart city in Manzini, have national camera surveillance and senior network, all 2G sites should be upgraded to 4G and roll out 5G deployment countrywide.

When the ministry was asked about the budget for the strategy and where it would source the funds, the Communications Officer, Gugu Nkambule, said currently, they were doing an ICT audit for all government departments. This, Nkambule said, would give them the idea of what and how much was needed to implement the strategy.

The communications officer also said that the implementation of the strategy would need collaboration between government and its partners, including the youth in ICT.

It is worth noting that during a meeting between the ministry and the innovators, government department extended its partnership to the youth-in-technology-societies and bodies such as the Innovators Association of Eswatini, whose tireless efforts in nurturing entrepreneurship and fostering a culture of digital innovation are pivotal in driving the national system of innovation agenda forward.