Question NW1009 to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services:
17 May 2017 - NW1009
Terblanche, Ms JF to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services:
Are discussions being held with the National Treasury to (a) develop a funding plan for the establishment of the proposed national wireless open access network and (b) attract local and foreign investors to participate; if not, (i) why not and (ii) how does the Minister envisage funding the establishment of the network?
Reply:
I have being advised by the Department as follows:
a) No
b) No
(i) & (ii) The model contemplated in the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper, does not envisage Government funding for the establishment of the network but provides that Government may provide incentives to support wireless open access. These include the allocation of some funds from the fund responsible for rural and under-serviced areas. At the appropriate time, the Universal Service and Access Fund or its successor contemplated in the White Paper, the Digital Development Fund, may allocate some funds if money is appropriated by Parliament for that purpose.
The White Paper stipulates that the Wireless Open Access Network will be a public-private sector-owned and managed consortium, and will consist of entities that are interested in participating. Participants may include, but not be limited to, current holders of electronic communications service (ECS) and electronic communications network service (ECNS) licenses, infrastructure companies, private equity investors, Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Over-the-Top (OTT) players and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), State-Owned Companies and Development Financial Institutions.