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.
1
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
3
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) <3% total income
• Richest 20% hh (3% pop) >65% 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 5km’s 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 nation’s wealth is correlated with its
telecom infrastructure
Source: Formus SA
Internet Host Computers - Jan 1995
10,000,000
USA
Norw ay
Finland
1,000,000
Denm ark
South Africa
Hong Kong
Poland
New Zealand
Portugal
Singapore
Israel
Czech Rep
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Slovenia
Greece
Chile
Slovakia
Malaysia
Estonia
100,000
10,000
1,000
100
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Costa Rica
Latvia
Luxem bourg
Ecuador
Lithuania Bulgaria
1
$1,000
UK
Germ any
Netherlands
Sw itzerland
Austria
Belgium
Spain
Korea, S
Taiw an
Brazil
Mexico
Russian Fed
Turkey
Thailand
Argentina
Ukraine
Kuw ait
Peru
Uruguay
Macau
Moldavia
Guinea
Canada
France
Japan
Italy
Rom ania
Jam aica
Cyprus
Zam bia
Tunesia
Nicaragua
Zim babw e
Panam a
Arm enia
Fiji
Australia
Sw eden
India
$10,000
Indonesia
Egypt
Puerto Rico
Iran
Algeria
Venezuela
Philippines
Colom bia
Kazakhstan
Belarus
Azerbaijan
China
Saudi Arabia
$100,000
$1,000,000
$10,000,000
1993 GNP ($M)
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Issues
Infrastructure
Sub-Saharan Africa teledensity - <1 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 coordination
14
Contact Details
E-mail: Cohet@satra.gov.za
Post: SATRA, Private Bag X1, Marlboro,
Sandton, 2063, South Africa
Tel:
27-11-321-8384
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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
Telkom
Future fixed line providers
Mobile Cellular
Vodacom, MTN, 3rd and 4th?
PTNs - Transnet and Eskom
Mobile Data, Radio Trunking,
VANS
- including ISPs
18
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
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