School Connectivity

Contribution to Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Telecommunication and Postal Services

12 September 2014

Mr Freeman Nomvalo

2

SITA Mandate Context

Act means “SITA Act 38 of 2002”; Regulation means “SITA General Regulations R.902 of 2005”.

“7.(1) To achieve its objects, the Agency – (a) must, on behalf of a [National or Provincial] department, …

(i) provide or maintain a private telecommunication network or a value-added network service in accordance with the Telecommunications Act, 1996…”;

To improve service delivery to the public through the provision of information technology, information systems and related services in a maintained information systems security environment to departments and public bodies; and to promote the efficiency of departments and public bodies through the use of information technology (SITA Act, 1998).

3

SITA Role within National ICT Agenda

SA Connect Info & Cybersecurity e-Government

Enable Public Service Delivery – prioritising implementation of

National Policies

NDP 2030

Medium Term Strategic framework 2015-2019 (14 x Outcomes)

4

SITA Successes

5

Broadband coverage vs Public Sector facilities

combined fixed and mobile broadband coverage

Source: BMI-T, 2012

Health facilitiesPolice stationsSchools

Legend:

Total facilities outside coverage:•6785 schools•793 health facilities•192 police stations

6

Broadband Partnering Government Next Generation Network (NGN)

• Partnership with Telkom and BBI established to improve the coverage and broadband capacity of the basic network in place

• Broadband Infraco benefitso 15% bandwidth capacity increase year-on-year without additional costo 42% reduction in cost (after migration from Neotel to BBI)

• Telkomo 849 lines (between 1 and 2 Mbps) upgraded to 2 Mbps at no costo 24.6% overall cost saving to the current situation

Western Cape Broadband initiative• Partnership with Neotel established• Connecting 2025 public service outlets (including 1187 Schools and 298 Health facilities)• Minimum bandwidth 10Mbps

Network Security• SITA focusses on providing Security layer to the Government NGN to ensure Government

data assets remains private for Government use only and that it is protected from Cyber Attacks.

7

Enabling DBE Strategic objectives

Improve the quality of teaching and learning

Undertake regular assessments to track progress

Improve early childhood development

Outcomes-focussed planning & accountability system

Improve the capacity of DBE

Support the laptop initiative

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Challenges

SITA’s services uptake remains a challenge

SITA’s Act primarily focusses on departments

Poor Last mile penetration into rural communities

High cost of bandwidth

Low bandwidth (below SA Connect Targets) in most

areas

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Conclusion

Whilst SITA has faced challenges historically, if given an

opportunity I believe SITA can increase its contribution in

furthering the country’s objectives of providing equal

education to all