Send me (cheap Internet access)
Ramaphosa’s pledge to improve tech and telecoms is laudable. Let’s hope the ‘Cyril Spring’ isn’t a false start
Last Wednesday, about an hour before the midnight deadline for Jacob Zuma to resign as president or face a motion of no confidence, his resignation flung SA into wild celebration and, hopefully, back to economic viability.
Two days later, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his maiden state of the nation address, looking and behaving like the statesman we have truly missed in our president.
And in a stirring speech that was big on possibilities and a restoration of our dignity but arguably short on detail, he noted the importance of the technology and digital industries.
Ramaphosa said government will “establish a digital industrial revolution commission . . . to ensure that our country is in a position to seize the opportunities and manage the challenges of rapid advances in information and communication technology . . .
“Our prosperity as a nation depends on our ability to take full advantage of rapid technological change. This means that we urgently need to develop our capabilities in [these] areas.”
There has been a desperate need for government to discover what we have known for decades: digital is the new mining. And government needs to see the glorious potential it represents.
Silicon Valley might have lost its shine in the past year, but there is no denying how profound its effect can be on an economy. Look at how Kenya’s economy has been boosted by its innovative spirit and competitive mobile industry, “Silicon Savannah”, which has produced companies and products such as M-pesa, Ushahidi, M-kopa and BRCK.
Part of Kenya’s success has been affordable and abundant broadband, something it has delivered by pushing ahead with its own undersea cables, then providing an enabling environment, with fibre and mobile data to deliver that Internet access to citizens.
Compare that with SA, which is years behind schedule to switch to digital terrestrial TV. This will free up spectrum previously used for TV broadcasts, and boost wireless signals.
There’s a good reason this chunk of bandwidth is called the “digital dividend”. Because of its low frequency, its signal travels further and is better at penetrating walls. Cellular operators will be able to build fewer base stations, yet provide a better network.
Perhaps that’s what Ramaphosa meant when he said: “The drive towards the digital industrial revolution will be underpinned by the availability of efficient networks. We will finalise our engagements with the telecommunications industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the allocation of spectrum reduces barriers to entry, promotes competition and reduces the cost to consumers.”
With new, invigorated and honourable leadership in government that understands the importance of digital and telecoms, the tech and telecoms industries are sure to respond enthusiastically to an enabling environment.
They are sure to agree with Ramaphosa, when he quoted Hugh Masekela: “I wanna lend a hand. Send me.”
Government needs to discover what we have known for decades: that digital is the new mining