Zandile Majozi MP
IFP Spokesperson on Communications and Digital Technologies
The IFP welcomes the release of spectrum by ICASA today, as access to it by telecoms providers will not only see the reduction in the costs of data for all South Africans but an array of telecommunications opportunities await to be unlocked.
In a case of “rather late than never” the IFP can finally welcome the long-awaited release of the guidelines to access spectrum, as we have made numerous pronouncements on this matter in keeping, Communications & Digital Technologies Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams accountable.
We welcome the necessary relief consumers will experience over time, following Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s austere mini-budget statement last week. We hope that the competition in bidding for spectrum will bring the best results and outcomes to South Africans.
Digital migration has for too long simply been shelved and quietly packaged away by government in ignoring it’s potential by not committing itself to any deadline. Minister after Minister the government over-promised and under-delivered.
We remain hopeful that the exorbitant costs of data in our country will drop faster than the ‘conservative’ estimate of National Treasury in saying it would merely be as much as 25 percent over the next three years. But the reality is that do not have three-years to rescue our economy and to provide relief to struggling South Africans.
The IFP will closely monitor the process and hold all stakeholders accountable, in the interest of making sure prices fall and access to opportunities become inclusive.
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Contact:
Zandile Majozi MP
IFP Spokesperson on Communications and Digital Technologies
073 052 9556