Development, Universal Access and Governance in South Africa

1. 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. Development, Universal Access and Governance in South Africa

2. 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

3. South Africa

4. 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

5. 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

6. The Phone Gap

7. 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

8. SA - ISP Industry Structure

9. Internet in Africa Source: Mike Jensen, AISI

10. Cost ComparativeSource: Mike Jensen, AISI

11. 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

12. A nation’s wealth is correlated with its telecom infrastructure Source: Formus SA

13. 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

14. 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

15. Contact Details • E-mail: Cohet@satra.gov.za • Post: SATRA, Private Bag X1, Marlboro, Sandton, 2063, South Africa • Tel: 27-11-321-8384

16. 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

18. Telkom Future fixed line providers Mobile Cellular Vodacom, MTN, 3rd and 4th? PTNs - Transnet and Eskom Mobile Data, Radio Trunking, VANS - including ISPs Snapshot - SA Industry Structure

19. 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

20. 24 Months Ago…

21. 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

22. Comparatively Speaking…Source: Mike Jensen, AISI