South Africa’s communications minister Mondli Gungubele says the country’s government will allocate R6 billion (about €286 million) to build a national broadband network to connect the nation’s government departments, hospitals, schools and other facilities.

The minister gave the news to parliament during a debate on the nation’s Communications & Technology’s budget debate. The cash will go to the State IT Agency (SITA).

The aim is to have SITA build the network on a per-region basis, he added, and the project will ensure government reduces cost and duplication of communication infrastructure from municipal to national government level, he told members of parliament. “Designated” service providers, including those empowered by youth and women, must receive “at least 40 per cent of the value of this project”.

South Africa already has independent suppliers of broadband including services from MTN, Telkom and Vodacom.

Other posts by :

1. Italy joins Germany in IRIS2 alternate thoughts
2. Kazakhstan to create museum at Yuri Gagarin launch site
3. AST SpaceMobile gets $42 or $1500 price target
4. Analyst: GEO bloodbath taking place
5. SES AGM results: Appaloosa still objecting
6. SpaceX’s Shotwell worth $1.2bn
7. SpinLaunch’s revolutionary plan for 280 satellites
8. Consolidation impacts satellite sector
9. Project Kuiper plans first satellite launch

Categories: Articles, Broadband

Tags: broadband, south africa