STAATSKOERANT, 24 JANUARIE 2014 No. 37261 DEPUTY MINISTER STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS The launch of the National Integrated ICT Policy Green Paper is an important milestone in constructing a platform for us to use modern communication technologies to address the developmental gaps. The National Developmental Plan identified information and communication technologies as important to building an information society and knowledge economy. This vision necessitates us to facilitate the provision of seamless information infrastructure that will enable access to the creation and consumption of a wide range of converged services required for effective economic and social participation. The disparities between the urban and rural areas still remain high. We hope the research done on the availability of the infrastructure will focus our efforts on those areas where the backbone infrastructure has not yet reached as well as on the access part of the network, including in rural areas. It is time we take stock of how far we have progressed on our journey to digital inclusiveness and to overcome the obstacles we face. We must also take stock of the high prices we as South Africans continue to pay for communications. Elsewhere in the world people are enjoying higher speeds and faster services because of the technological changes that have taken place over the last decade. It is also time that we put our house in order and start to benefit from the innovative services that the converged world can bring about in an appropriate policy and regulatory setting. Our country still suffers from glaringly inequitable levels of access to all sorts of resources, among them health, education, finance and the very information and communication technologies whose access would alleviate the sufferings. Closing the gaps will require innovation and joint efforts by all role players. It is for this reason that we have engaged with other government bodies and entities in the development of research that informed this paper. As a result we are more aware of the ICT projects and programmes that government is undertaking. We are equally much more aware of the challenges different government entities face in their quest to modernise their ICT infrastructure to deliver services to the public. In the discussions leading up to the release of the National Integrated ICT Policy Green Paper it became obvious that government must find new ways of coordinating itself if we are to succeed in using these technologies to deliver services successfully and in an affordable way. ICT revolutions make possible better cheaper access to knowledge and information. This speeds-up transactions and process and reduces their cost, which in-turn benefit citizens and consumers. We hope you too can contribute ideas on how government can coordinate efforts at national, provincial and municipal level more effectively. The positive impact of the use of information and communication technologies on economic development is now well established. The International Telecommunications Union posits that 1.3% economic growth in terms of the GDP can result from 10% broadband penetration. For this to be realised government will have to make the widest possible use of information and communication technologies in everything we do. Government must act as an aggregator of demand side measures that will stimulate public sector use of the technologies. Government must also facilitate access to rights of ways and wayleaves in order to allow for the rapid deployment of infrastructure. The National Integrated ICT Policy Green Paper presents an occasion for us to engage each other on what we believe to be our core needs and how we see the information and communication technology sector advancing our community and societal interests. 5 400167—B This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 9