Authorities has developed a nationwide satellite tv for pc technique that shall be offered to cupboard ministers quickly. One of many suggestions is that authorities ought to purchase and absolutely personal its personal geostationary satellite tv for pc.
The division of communications & digital applied sciences and the division of science, expertise & innovation have labored on the proposal collectively.
In response to a joint presentation by representatives of each departments in a gathering of their respective parliamentary portfolio committees on Tuesday, it might take between 5 and 7 years for South Africa to develop and put its personal satellite tv for pc into orbit.
“There’s a digital divide in South Africa that satellite tv for pc can help with, and that’s as a result of in some areas it is vitally pricey to supply [terrestrial] connectivity,” mentioned Tinyiko Ngobeni, deputy director-general on the division of communications.
“The satellite tv for pc technique will help us in reaching our schooling and well being goals, explicit in distant and rural areas. We’re additionally hoping it’ll contribute to the discount of the associated fee to speak because of the excessive value of deploying high-speed connectivity in some areas.”
Ngobeni mentioned three choices for the acquisition of satellite tv for pc capability are set out within the technique doc. The primary is a completely leased mannequin, the place authorities would pay charges to a non-public satellite tv for pc service supplier. This selection would supply the quickest time to market as there could be no infrastructure funding required from authorities.
Prospects
The second choice is a three way partnership between authorities and one other entity. Ngobeni mentioned this may give the state barely extra management than the primary proposal, however nonetheless wouldn’t permit for full autonomy. The timeline to deployment below this mannequin could be about three years.
The third mannequin, most well-liked by each the communications and science departments, would contain outright possession of the satellite tv for pc. Regardless of having the longest time to market, it might tackle issues round information sovereignty and safety which were raised by parliament in earlier discussions.
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Ngobeni claimed business gamers, together with telecommunications operators – which might function clients for the satellite tv for pc – have already dedicated to buying capability from authorities, ought to it launch a satellite tv for pc.
A scarcity of satellite tv for pc abilities within the public sector is likely one of the key dangers recognized as a possible hurdle to the mission’s success. As a workaround, authorities is trying to accomplice with personal sector gamers with the required abilities to assist handle the mission.
One other key danger to the mission’s success is corruption, which Ngobeni mentioned has come to characterise authorities tasks of this scope. Funding for the satellite tv for pc mission could be sought partially from the nationwide fiscus, however given the big sums of cash required, public-private partnerships ought to be pursued as properly, mentioned Ngobeni.
“Based mostly on estimations for tasks of this nature, it is going to be very troublesome to get your complete quantity from the fiscus. Most satellite tv for pc launches observe a partnership mannequin as a result of it requires enter from all stakeholders together with policymakers, those that are going to be concerned within the technical features of the design and launch, and people who decide to utilizing the service after the satellite tv for pc is launched.”
Debt financing can be being explored as a further supply of funding. Ngobeni mentioned the staff, comprising members of the communications and science departments in addition to contributors from communications regulator Icasa and state-owned sign distribution firm Sentech, are “exploring different choices” to deliver the time deployment window down from the 5 to seven years which were projected.
“We want to leverage a number of the capability that we’ve between Sentech and the South African Nationwide House Company to see what may be finished to [speed up] this final goal of launching our personal satellite tv for pc as a rustic,” mentioned Ngobeni. – © 2025 NewsCentral Media
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