eStrategies Africa 2016

eStrategies AFRICATIME FOR PHAKISA ICT? Group to work with a new sense of urgencyClear plans agreed for SA’s digital revolution 1www.estrategies.co.za

Contents eStrategies | Africa 4 Comment Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services 6 Aiming High ICASA CEO Pakamile Pongwana outlines what needs to be done to achieve the ICT PHAKISA 8 Lesson from Gauteng Why the implementation of the Gauteng Broadband Network has been such a success 12 Connecting the Western Cape Why NEOTEL became the first major player to join the Cape Digital Foundation 16 Advancing healthcare Dr. Gail Andrews explains how progress has been made since the last eStrategies event in 2015 18 eServices Roundtable Sharing of telecommunications platforms for the development and implementation of all eServices 26 The National eStrategy Roundtable The role of the private sector in South Africa’s National eStrategy 34 eHealth Roundtable Connectivity at the core of eHealth success 42 Connectivity Roundtable Increasing spectrum for faster affordable broadband roll-out2

www.estrategies.co.za Foreword eStrategies Africa 2015 took place in Cape Town where we brought together again the people who have been working on delivering a roadmap for ICT development through the eStrategies platform for many years. These delegates were joined by some new faces from the public and private sectors and Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services, helped drive the agenda over both days. Four round table sessions took place focused on speeding up the implementation of eSevices and eHealth solutions as well as a means to improve broadband roll-out and consolidate the National eStrategy. Discussion was focused on developing some concrete outcomes and a set of clear actions. Consensus was reached and plans were drafted and we will now be looking to set about implementation with renewed vigour and a real sense of urgency. Each round table chair and rapporteur worked closely with eStrategies Africa immediately after each session and the resulting report is what we are publishing now in this special digital edition of the magazine. eStrategies Magazine will be published again early next year, when we will also be speaking to key stakeholders involved in this process to monitor the progress being made before we all meet again in Cape Town. Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services attended all sessions of the event, chairing two roundtables 3

COMMENTIhave been a supporter of the eStrategies Africa should be and how its success should be monitored Forum for several years and attended the last and measured. event, held in Cape Town in November 2015. I chaired two round tables there, focused on It was, as you will imagine, a lively and passionate eServices and the National eStrategy for South debate – but it was also more than just debate. After Africa and my aim in doing so was clear. I wanted the discussions took place, the group agreed on a set to bring together public and private sector experts of key actions and follow-up activities and these were working on our country’s digital agenda and start published by eStrategies Africa so progress could be to develop a sensible roadmap that will help shape monitored. and advance our digital opportunities quickly as well as ensure our National eStrategy is based on solid Perhaps the most ambitious action plan to emerge intelligence from those who know what they are from the sessions in Cape Town was the notion of an talking about. ICT PHAKISA. It was agreed that the President’s Office With this in mind, we set about discussing issues would be approached with a proposal to extend the of connectivity (infrastructure), broadband rollout existing PHAKISA to the ICT sector to inject a sense of (access), financial modeling, partnerships and many urgency into delivering on the promise and potential more issues surrounding this crucial development. of our existing policies and removing any barriers that I was looking to clarify how the public and private exist to implementation. We also agreed that all the sectors can work together better. actions agreed over the two days of discussion at the How, for example, does the government intend Forum would be incorporated into the PHAKISA for to involve the private sector in implementing its ICT. eStrategies, how will this relationship be maintained on an on-going basis and through which channels will Since last year’s meeting, clarity has been reached government specify the contribution it expects the in terms of the drive to implementing the Digital private sector to make? Agenda for South Africa and I am delighted to report Meanwhile, I wanted the group to focus on how that Operation PHAKISA for the ICT sector will be we should determine the appropriate framework for embarked upon along with other prioritised sectors the National eStrategy - what are its key drivers and such as Oceanography and education. Our belief is priorities, how will these be executed and how should that this really does matter, not least for economic they be monitored and reviewed? In doing so, we reasons – the internet economy’s contribution to GDP tried to understand what the shortcomings are with growth is likely to be in the region of five per cent in the current National ICT Policy and what has and 2030, while the contribution of the ICT sector will be hasn’t worked in terms of the Information Technology at least four per cent by 2020. PHAKISA ICT will help section of National ICT Policy, namely ubiquity, maximise this potential. affordability, reliability and speed. I also wanted us to consider which agency – This is a major development and one that we will state or private – should be standing up to take continue to work on through a variety of channels, responsibility for the delivery of the National including eStrategies Africa and the next meeting, eStrategy, what its key deliverables and milestones taking place in July this year. But the DTPS is of the view that matters of the information society need an even wider engagement involving all stakeholders and society at large. This is why the DTPS is in process of launching a National ICT Forum, which will serve as4 eStrategies | Africa

Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize , Deputy Minister,Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Servicesa major platform of engagement between the public “The Draft White Paperand private sector and the general public. outlines our core values eStrategies Africa will continue to be a part of and principles and it willthis engagement, helping to shape discussions anddirectives that have led to the recent completion be made available onceof the ICT Policy Review. This process culminated the approval process forin a draft White Paper, which addresses many of publishing is completed andthe issues raised at the Forum, including the use it will be an important partof existing resources and infrastructure to deliver of the eStrategies Africaconnectivity. The draft White Paper has, for example,a specific chapter addressing the matters of SAPO as discussions in Julypart of the eServices delivery mechanism in a cost-effective way. The department continues to stronglysupport the Post Office, which is one of its agencies. The Draft White Paper outlines our core valuesand principles and it will be made available once theapproval process for publishing is completed and itwill be an important part of the eStrategies Africadiscussions in July. The DTPS is absolutely committed to drivingand implementing the Digital Agenda, and to doso efficiently and quickly, it will use its branchknown as Information Society Development andResearch (ISADR). This department is tasked tocoordinate and facilitate information society matterssuch as the development of a National eStrategy,eServices, digital opportunity, eSkills, ICT CapacityDevelopment, Gender, Youth, Children and Disability,Intergovernmental relations and stakeholdermanagement. The ISADR Branch works closely withSITA, which is responsible for the overall project ofeGovernment. To ensure this all comes together and actuallydelivers on what the country needs, forums likeeStrategies Africa and the outcomes they produce,like PHAKISA ICT will help us reach the immediategoal of finalising the National eStrategy and this,in turn, will ensure we successfully deliver qualityeServices throughout South Africa.www.estrategies.co.za 5

Aiming high ICASA played a pivotal role in the eStrategies Africa Forum 2015, where its CEO Pakamile Pongwana chaired the Connectivity round table and worked closely with Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services and Dr Ntsibane Ntlatlapa of CSIR to formulate the follow-up actions that emerged from the lively discussion. These actions ensure the Forum leads to positive outcomes and real development – something eStrategies follows up on to monitor progress. We talk to Mr Pongwana about each of the agreed actions and assess whether enough progress has been made in the development of improved connectivity in South Africa Of the five actions, perhaps the most headline grabbing was the call for the establishment of an ICT Phakisa, designed to create a sense of urgency in delivering on the implementation of the excellent policies already in place, removing the barriers that exist to that implementation and as a tool to get things done. eStrategies: Do you still agree that this would be a worthwhile initiative? Pakamile Pongwana: The positive contribution of well- connected ICT to the growth of a country’s economy is now widely accepted. ICTs are a valuable tool in the realisation of the potential of any other sector. It is therefore of utmost importance that the implementation of policies already in place and the removal of barriers that exist in the ICT sector be prioritised. Operation Phakisa ICT is a noble idea and it would be desirable if it were to accelerate or improve processes to achieve our goals that are already underway rather than to start new processes from scratch. One such process is that envisaged in Section 21(1) of the Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005, which provides that “the Minister must, in consultation with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, the Authority and other relevant institutions, develop a policy and policy directions for the rapid deployment and provisioning of electronic communications facilities, following which the Authority must prescribe regulations.” The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services is currently consulting on a policy white paper that deals with, inter alia, this rapid deployment. The outcome of this consultation needs to be speeded up to finalisation with sound proposals to move the sector forward. At the same time serious interaction needs to be done with all municipalities to standardise deployment guidelines, charging, processes, coordination and alignment of laws or by laws. It would be ideal that the work on the policy and policy direction be expedited in the Spirit of Operation Phakisa ICT. eS: What has been done to make it happen? PP: It would appear that no progress has been made in this regard.6 eStrategies | Africa

eS: Who should be leading such an initiative? issue discussed at length and it was agreed that this shouldPP: Department of Postal and Telecommunications Services be advocated It was agreed that from now the roll out ofeS: How should ICASA be involved? all joint and shared infrastructure would be conducted in aPP: ICASA’s role will be to enable the ICT sector to develop as coordinated fashion with the aim of lowering input costs. Butsmoothly as possible by regulating were necessary to ensure has this started to happen? If not, what is the delay?vibrant competition amongst participants and a good quality PP: Joint rollout of infrastructure, such as optical fibre, andof services and products to consumers. Of course ICASA can the sharing of infrastructure, such as masts, has started toonly do this as far its mandate provides. happen to a certain degree, and mainly through commercial agreements. There is, however, a need for joint planningeS: How can we ensure that it brings all the relevant and coordination of infrastructure rollout to minimisestakeholders together? unnecessary duplication of investment.PP: Stakeholders don’t necessarily have to get together,however, it is of utmost importance that they buy into the eS: What benefits would such coordination bring in terms ofbigger picture and commit to cooperate and participate improved connectivity and better services?actively in the realisation of the set goals. PP: The sharing of infrastructure, including the rollouteS: What do you think such an initiative would achieve? thereof, can lead to a reduction in the duplication ofPP: The initiative would bring about a connected and infrastructure, the acceleration of the deployment ofprosperous South Africa. infrastructure and environmental benefits. It furthereS: Spectrum availability as a barrier allows for a reduction in the operational and capital expenditures of networkto connectivity was nother discussion Operation Phakisapoint at the event in November and ICT is a noble idea operators. The net savings from sharingit was agreed that there is a need infrastructure can be reinvested to further expand networks and improve the qualityfor closer discussion and agreementbetween the Department and ICASA and it would be of the services offered on the networks. The reduction input costs is expected toto remove the confusion that exists desirable if it wereover the rolls and responsibilities in to accelerate or encourage the entry of more participant inrelation to spectrum allocation. It was the ICT sector.proposed that the dialogue will emerge improve processeswithin ICT PHAKISA and the notion of to achieve our goals eS: Who should be driving this?continuous sharing of information will PP: The rollout of infrastructure shouldbe developed. be a collective effort; no one party can connect the country by itself. PartnershipsPP: ICASA will make available will need to be formed to tackle the mammoth task. These include, inter alia,additional radio frequency spectrum where there are public private partnerships. Parties should be encouraged toconstraints. In fact, while ICASA is preparing to licence what jointly rollout infrastructure and share the infrastructure withis loosely referred to as ‘high demand spectrum’, it has just others in terms of open access principles. The important thingfinalised the process for making the E and V band spectrum is for the country to have common high level plan that willavailable for use. The E Band is a set of frequencies in the guide parties in planning their individual networksrange 71-76GHz paired with 81-86GHz, whereas the V Band eS: Speaking at the same debate as ICASA, USAASAis a continuous block of 9 GHz of spectrum between 57 and highlighted its approach to funding broadband connectivity66 GHz. The E band is particularly suitable for high capacity in rural and other under-serviced areas of the country andshort range transition links that can be also used for small demonstrated the commercial viability of its approach. Thesecells. The V band will unlock 802.11ad WiGig or simply models will now be made public.gigabit Wi-Fi alleviating pressure off 2.4GHz and 5GHzlicence exempt spectrum that is popularly used for Wi-Fi.” Since then, USAASA has shared documentation with eStrategies and a summary of their successful models will beeS: Has there been progress in improving collaboration published in this magazine, but what can we learn from such activity and is there anything ICASA has been doing or shouldbetween ICASA and the Department? be doing to promote successful roll-out?PP: Efforts are being made to ensure that this is addressed. PP: ICASA recently concluded a public consultation processeS: What benefits will or have emerged through such on a regulatory framework on electronic communicationcollaboration? infrastructure sharing. One of the findings of the processPP: Common approaches and understanding of the different was that alternative investment mechanisms such as fundsset of views that can prevail between the departments. from the Universal Service and Access Fund may need to be explored to encourage network rollouts in areas that do noteS: What specific information is ICASA keen to share or have have infrastructure and are not financially viable.shared?PP: The different approaches that are available to implement What USAASA demonstrated is that when funding meetspolicy prescripts and challenges. existing expertise, more can be achieved in a short space ofeS: Importantly, the leveraging of the commons was also an time and networks can be expanded to all parts of the country. www.estrategies.co.za 7

Lessons fromGAUTENGBrett Nash, Managing Director of Altech Radio Holdings explains why the GautengBroadband Network has been such a success in delivering high-speed, affordable bandwidth to much of the province. He also calls for closer cooperation betweenGovernment and the private sector if South Africa is to meet its broadband targetsBrett Nash, Managing Director of Altech Radion Holdings In 2013 Altech Alcom Matomo won the contract to build the Gauteng Broadband Network (GBN). It is a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract with the Gauteng Provincial Government and part of the Gauteng City and region-wide eGovernment strategy, aimed at improving linkages and integration within city and regional governments and their departments. The ultimate target is for 100 per cent broadband connectivity over the whole province by 2019. This is an ambitious goal when compared to the national broadband targets, through which the South African government aims to deliver widespread broadband connectivity to 90 per cent of the country’s population by 2020, and to 100 per cent by 2030. The initial build for the GBN was to connect 400 buildings using a fixed core, 10gb network connecting each building though a 100mb router. The contract was for five years – two year build and three year operation – and the initial build phase is already complete. “Things have gone exceptionally well,” reports Brett. “We have put in an enormous amount of effort and met all targets in order to fulfil the project requirements on time, to specification and within budget. Of the completed sites, primary health care sites make up the majority with 184 connected sites, and there are also just over 130 connected schools now. The rest are spread over the various government departments within Gauteng, including agriculture,8 eStrategies | Africa

education, eGovernance, transport and of Telkom’s low penetration, were “You also need to make sure that youhealth, but it is the education and health exorbitantly expensive, so schools and understand the needs of the customer.sectors that are benefitting the most primary health care centres are not being Of course, the customer may often notfrom this improved connectivity.” connected to broadband so are lagging be an expert in these projects and so behind and this is why the province their expectations often differ from The initial phase of the GBN project took it upon itself to start spearheading what is eventually delivered, so youbenefitted from significant investment this initiative and start providing these need to be very clear at the start whatof more than R1 billion and has services to these communities via a the deliverables are and manage thosebeen managed by the Department dedicated network.” expectations. And that is what we did.”of eGovernment in the region underthe eagle eye of Finance MEC Barbara As with all projects of this nature, It was this level of careful scopingCreecy. This is a unique way to operate a there have been challenges, not least and the close cooperation betweenproject of this nature but one that seems deploying more than 1,500 kilometers the public and private sectors on theto have worked well in meeting the aim of fibre. Although the majority of fibre GBN project that helped Altech Radioto deliver better services at reduced needed for the build was leased from Holdings to also win other tenders tocosts to communities, particularly in Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) in an effort supply other municipal entities withunder-serviced areas and specifically in to leverage infrastructure that was their own broadband network, whichterms of education and health. already there and save costs, there will ultimately complement the GBN, were many sections of the terrestrial adding greater density of coverage to “They were looking at what was the infrastructure that needed to be built what the new network already supplies.most appropriate and cost-effectiveway to provide services to their various With this BOT contract, they have been abledepartments and selected areas in the to leverage the infrastructure they investedprovince that were not benefitting from in and not only bring it to their departmentsbroadband due to the lack of connectedinfrastructure,” explains Nash. at speeds not experienced before, but to improve services to citizens as well “They actually have quite advancedcloud infrastructure, which is hosted from scratch, between where the DFA Unlike the GBN, however, some of theseat the Telkom Data Centre and which fibre ended and the buildings that tender contracts operate with a differentruns various government functions,” he needed to be connected. But this was funding model, whereby the networkcontinues. “But their biggest challenge not just a logistical challenge as Nash rollout is debt equity financed and thenwas with the terrestrial links to this explains: “We needed to work closely recovers the cost from the City throughcloud. They had this great cloud engine with the different municipalities and get the provision of services for a number ofbut weren’t able to use it effectively. The permission to dig the trenches and lay years. Nash believes this is an excellentGBN was implemented to expand their the fibre. There can often be issues with way for the public and private sectors tobroadband network and to get access bureaucracy in circumstances like this work together.to this cloud into their buildings. And where, despite being a province-widewith this BOT contract, they have been initiative, each municipality often has “They said to us, ‘OK, our primaryable to leverage the infrastructure they its own set of rules and complying with function is not the running of broadbandinvested in and not only bring it to their each can be tough. networks, so come in, build the network,departments at speeds not experienced provide us with an expert service andbefore, but to improve services to “There have also been periods of we will pay for it as anchor tenants’,”citizens as well.” ongoing social unrest in the region that he says. “We then take the balance of did delay the rollout,” he continues, “but the capacity and monetize it by taking Gauteng is certainly ahead of the we were sensitive to local situations and it out to the communities to providecurve in this respect. Until quite recently, hired local people in each area, where low-cost, competitive bandwidth andSouth Africa as a whole had some of the unemployment is often a real problem, we run the network for an agreedhighest broadband costs in the world, to carry out the work needed for each period of time. That model works. Theywhile connectivity has been slow to build. It really was a project where the are partnering with us and getting theexpand at expected rates. Nash believes customer and the supplier worked very service in return. So, rather than havingthis is due to several factors, but feels closely and very well together – and to rely on internal expertise, which isthe national fixed line operator Telkom that helps a great deal for builds of this not part of their primary function, theyshould certainly shoulder much of the nature. have outsourced it and can share in theresponsibility for this. “It has certainly profits from the external market. This isbeen slow in terms of its ability to “As with all projects like this, it is vital not only attractive for investors, but forprovide broadband to the masses,” he to scope everything out exceptionally the municipality itself.says. “It’s been well behind in this and carefully from the start and make sureits struggle has been well documented. the contract addresses as many of the “We have seen too many examplesSo underserviced areas in the region, like details as possible,” Nash continues. of networks being built for particulartownships, have not even been able tobenefit from fixed-line infrastructure,”he continues. “Meanwhile the mobileinfrastructure, which has leapfroggedfixed-line infrastructure becausewww.estrategies.co.za 9

organs of state and a number of years “Of course, it has to be acknowledged and Communications,” he says. “It wouldlater they are defunct. This is money that even if this were to be managed be good if they could explain theirbeing spent by government on networks on the national level, challenges would respective roles and responsibilities. Wethat just aren’t operating today. A exist,” he continues. “For a start, the also need to see the big players therebetter model may well be to include the amount of money required is enormous – USAASA, SITA, Broadband Infracoprivate sector to help figure out how – ostensibly R60 billion for SA Connect and Telkom – and it would be good toto monetize these networks so that alone. It is much easier to scope projects understand what they see their role as.they can deploy these assets in such a on a provincial and municipal level andway that they become profitable – then get them going.” “We are all aware of the fiscal situationinfrastructure will get built and will in South Africa and that there just isn’toperate consistently for the long term. Rather than everything coordinated budget,” he continues. “So we then need nationally, however, Nash is calling to look at how to add the third piece to “Of course, there is a social imperative for clear standards. “If we continue the puzzle – the private sector, whichthat the municipalities and provinces to make things work in the provinces is needed to undertake a lot of theneed to address,” continues Nash. and municipalities, what is absolutely work that is required on behalf of these“So these should be included in any essential are national standards different departments.contracts between government and and policies so that when differentindustry to ensure these imperatives departments are connected regionally, “With all this in mind, and with theseare met. You need to get the mix of they are all able to be integrated three sectors at the table, I would like tooperating profitably and subsidising together. We are busy with various see the eStrategies debate focus on thesocial initiatives, like getting WIFI into initiatives in different provinces and question of how Government leveragesschools, absolutely right.” municipalities, as are several other the private sector to provide sustainable companies, while plans are in place for broadband. How can this engagement While it is clear to see why projects other rollouts in many other parts of the happen and what will this engagementlike the GBN work so well at provincial country. Government needs to leverage look like?level, it is difficult to see how this can these initiatives alongside SA Connect,all work together at the national level. rather than duplicate things. They can “Government must look at public,Nash believes this is a massive challenge then build out into areas where provinces private partnerships as the way forwardfor government, but one that can be met and municipalities are not doing for sustainable broadband in Southwith more coordination at every level. anything and where services are needed.” Africa,” concludes Nash. “In my opinion, it’s the only way. Gauteng has proved “One of the big challenges that Nash believes the next eStrategies this by contracting us over a period ofgovernment has is that there is Africa Forum, being held in Cape Town time.no coordinating body, nationally, in July, will be a perfect forum to discussprovincially or at the municipal level that these issues and look at clear ways in “These projects are on a sustainableprovides any strategy for broadband,” which government can engage better scale, but as an outsourcing model,he says. “They have recently started with the private sector and achieve utilising the skills and expertise of theSA Connect, looking to roll out a huge better results in terms of connecting private sector to build, operate andamount of fibre, but that is a parallel South Africa. monetize an asset to the government’sinitiative to what many of the other advantage, it works very well.organs of state are doing and there is no “First of all, we will need both Governments should focus on governing.single body to go to that is coordinating of the ministries on board – Governments shouldn’t necessarilyall these different activities. Telecommunications and Postal Services run networks. That is the lesson from Gauteng.”10 eStrategies | Africa

HELPING 11GOVERNMENTMOVE INFRASTRUCTURETO THE CLOUD Connecting people to Government Achieving greater return on investment and helping Government by: • Reducing end-to-end infrastructure costs • Consolidating data and technology centres • Providing enterprise-wide security and encryptionwww.enterprisesolutions.altech.co.za www.estrategies.co.za

Connectingfor growthAfter being selected for a large broadband roll-out project in the Western Cape, SouthAfrican telecom giant NEOTEL has now become the first major player to sign up with theCape Digital Foundation, a not-for-profit initiative that seeks to end the digital divide inthe region by rolling out a series of digital projects based on improved connectivity andthe advancement of digital literacy. Etienne Stroebel, General Manager of TransformationalProjects for NEOTEL, explains what attracted the company to spearhead this initiativeeStrategies: Could you explain a little of the So, this first initiative was to provide communitiesbackground behind NEOTEL’s motivation to become access and give the man on the street access toinvolved in the Cape Digital Foundation. government services. The 384 Wi-Fi hotspots wereEtienne Stroebel: The Western Cape Government selected by the Western Cape government andselected NEOTEL as a delivery partner to connect close to were aimed at areas where it could achieve the best2,000 sites in the Western Cape on a broadband service. penetration for under-privileged communities. We lookedThis meant connecting schools, libraries, clinics and many to connect clinics or libraries; somewhere where peoplegovernment offices to a dedicated broadband network. We are able to go to connect.started this work in October, 2014 with the deploymentof a network to rural areas that traditionally are poorly It was as part of this obligation that we also agreedconnected. Our mandate was to roll out this connectivity to be founding partners of the Cape Digital Foundationover the next 10 years, while in the first three years we (CDF) providing the initial funding to get it up andwere also required to deploy 384 Wi-Fi hotspots to under- running. This seed funding has been used to get the rightprivileged areas to provide broadband connectivity to people on board, develop the strategy and set up theareas where there was none before. foundation’s structure. As such we are also represented on the board of CDF at the moment. As well as providing broadband infrastructure, we werealso providing the internet to these Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing eStrategies: With NEOTEL in at the start, can youcommunities to access sites that were also provided for free. explain in a little more detail how the structure was setA certain amount of megabytes are provided to a user on a up and what are the overall aims and objectives of themonthly basis for free and these people are able to access all initiative? What are you trying to achieve?government sites and programmes for free. They have a cap ES: At the start, it was obviously quite a small teamon their free usage and on top of that they will be able to driving this, so NEOTEL was very involved in supportingaccess any governmental website without any cost. them in terms of building the strategic vision and12 eStrategies | Africa

helping it shape specific goals and aligning them to to enable eLearning and provide content for learner onthe ultimate mandate. It was really a joint effort and this platform.as board members we obviously took a key part in thatinitial phase. As part of the broadband project that we are rolling out, there will be more than 1,200 schools in the WesterneStaretgies: Could you just briefly outline the key Cape that will be connected. So, if you take the rolloutobjectives of the foundation - both in general sense to schools plus you take the Wi-Fi access points to thesebut also from NEOTEL’s point of view? communities, which will be in libraries and so forth, andES: The overarching objective is essentially to address you then put this proper eLearning platform with goodeReadiness in the Western Cape Province, in terms of the learning content in place, you then have a concentrationimplementation of priority projects that the government point where people can access good content. Whetherare driving. What happens at the moment is that there it is teachers, teaching assistances, a specific student,are several initiatives running across various government support, collateral or courses using the platform, thedepartments and local departments that are running in ultimate goal is to take this prototype and develop it to aisolation. The objective of CDF is, essentially, to take the point where we can start building centres excellence.lead on these projects and become the delivery partner.We want to ensure that there is collaboration between What we have found is that we need to establishgovernment initiatives and those being led by business whether the communities and the people who are goingand the private sectors, with the specific key objective to be consuming this eLearning service are actually readyof ensuring there is broadband connectivity together to do so– are they actually capable of consuming thiswith programmes that will enable young people to start service? So we must have a system in place to determinegetting active in the world of information technology. the eReadiness of the communities in the Western Cape. So the initial objective is, of course, the deployment of We are not targeting the high-end business executiveinfrastructure and then we want to take this one step or people who already have good access to broadbandfurther by integrating programmes and projects that and internet services. This is all about making sure wewill collectively improve eLearning and eReadiness for deliver a programme that is actually usable and thatthe digital economy. That is essentially what we need to people will consume because they actually understandachieve and to do this, we had create the strategic intent how to do so. This is known as the aggregation modeland then start building a pipeline of projects we are but basically the eReadiness assessment will determinegoing to take forward. the pace at which we roll out certain components of this prototype. Once the prototype has been provedeStrategies: So how do you evaluate which projects then we will start working on how to develop itto take on with this strategy? even further. There is no point in throwing massiveES: We look at whether they will be useful. Are they technology at it and have a beautiful platform if peoplefeasible? How can it be funded? We are basically creating aren’t consuming it because they are not ready for it.the whole thing from scratch. What do we have in our It could identify other educational opportunities orfavour, however, is the fact that the government has opportunities to get people more technology savvy toalready started certain initiatives so what we are looking help them start consuming this service.to do now is bring other partners into these initiatives,whether these are business partners or funding “As part of the broadbandstakeholders. We want to make sure we get a much project that we are rollingwider penetration for a project or make sure we help a out, there will be more thanproject successfully roll out. It’s about taking what there 1,200 schools in the Westernis, while also continuing to evaluate new opportunities, Cape that will be connected”new projects that we can take on and start building.This is why collaboration is so important. With so many eStrategies: Putting aside the development of thisinitiatives out there it is vital we bring them all together. service and the rollout of connectivity does this initiative include the supply of devices and othereStrategies: Could you elaborate on the sort of hardware? Or is it based on what’s already out there?projects you are looking at? There are so many ES: It’s both. The initial approach is to realise thatgoing on at the moment, some with greater success there are already devices out there and this is allthat others, so are there some that are attracting part of the eReadiness assessment. We are tryingattention? to determine how people will actually consumeES: So the bigger one we’re working one right the service. Not everyone is walking around with anow is basically a two-pronged approach. First smartphone in these communities, even fewer withit’s an eReadiness assessment of the Western access to an iPad. I know that the Western CapeCape environment and then it is deploying a government as part of their strategy is looking atprototype eLearning and eSkills platform across the rolling out tablets and devices in schools and forinfrastructure. We can then make this platform and its learners – which makes a difference on how tocontent available to either schools or people accessing package the content compared to a mobile device.this over the Wi-Fi network and have a system in placewww.estrategies.co.za 13

And that is partly what we are trying to do here – trying to understand what the end user adoption or maturity is like for us to determine how we will structure the content available and how this content should be delivered. We don’t want to just go blindly ahead and implement stuff – we have seen in other areas that this doesn’t work. We want to make sure we understand how ready the communities are to use these platforms and content and develop our programmes and education intervention to meet these needs. The World Economic Forum has published some standards around eReadiness so we’ve got some people to help us take that methodology and apply it to the Western Cape environment. eStrategies: Can you provide an indication of the time so important for us to structure our programmes and Etienne Stroebel scales for the rollout the broadband, the eReadiness these specific projects so we can illustrate outcomes assessment and the development of projects? as it relates to eLearning so we can get funding from eStrategies | Africa ES: As it stands right now, we have just passed the business. But it is not only about funding here. We also 50 per cent mark in our deployment of the broadband want business to start collaborating with us in terms of infrastructure. So, by September of this year we will have project ideas, in terms of identifying additional projects completely rolled out the broadband network into the and that’s the exciting part. Business is ultimately going Western Cape, so all the sites will be connected. On top of to benefit from an educated community. What we want that, by the end of March this year, we will have the first to do is for business to start identifying skill shortages 50 Wi-Fi hotspots up and running into these communities. and educational needs, so we can then work with them And then for the rest of the year we will continue rolling to develop tailored educational programmes and begin out the remaining 200+ sites. The reason why we are empowering communities by providing skill development not sure how long the remaining deployment will take is that meets specific economic needs of a community. because the Western Cape government still need to tell us which sites will get these hotspots. So essentially the This is the unique thing about what we are doing here, Wi-Fi hotspot access for these first 50 communities will be which will end up with business driving the demand ready by March and by September this year the broadband of what is published and put out there for people to rollout will be completed. consume. I think that’s the real objective of this thing. What will happen then is that over the next 10 years eStrategies: Yes, the motivation is not only CSR but we will be increasing the bandwidth to these sites there is a solid business case behind being involved systematically. After the first five years the majority in the strategy from this stage – driving demand of sites will have 10mb connection, and then it will be that’ will eventually lead to more business through 100mb and eventually to one gigabyte, with some sites educated consumers and a more skilled workforce. receiving 10 gigabytes. The programme will continue over ES: Absolutely. We want to make sure that we illustrate this 10-year period increasing bandwidth capacity so we to business stakeholders that they are ultimately the will end up with the majority of sites with one gigabyte recipients of the benefits of doing this well and we connection as a minimum. really want to take individual programmes in isolation and get to a point where the ultimate demand is eStrategies: This timescale works well with the generated from businesses. This is what the economy planned July eStrategies meeting as you will have requires to grow. We are not doing this because the the first stages close to completion by then. Moving government wants it but because business has a real on to collaboration. The word itself has many need for it to happen – and business involved in CDF at connotations, so can we look for an understanding of this stage will benefit faster. who else NEOTEL, as a private sector company, would like to see involved in the Cape Digital Foundation eStrategies: With that thought in mind, are you and taking part in these ambitious plans? What else able to provide a wish list of particular companies, are you looking for to be brought to the table? particular industries or types of industries that you ES: Broadly speaking, the key stakeholders and would like to see involved in this? You mentioned collaborators will be government. As well as government, we are looking for anyone within the education space, so people providing content, people who can help develop content and companies who are innovating within this space. Wider business is obviously a key stakeholder in terms of funding. They want to channel their corporate social responsibility funding somewhere, so that is why it is14

people in the education space, but are there any you invest this money, this will be the outcome and youspecific companies or sectors that you think if they can measure it’.were involved it would lead to tremendous benefitsall round? As for the July event, we are keen to explore this nowES: It is a tricky question because it’s very early in so we can identify specific companies, especially from athe process for the CDF so quite difficult to pinpoint funding perceptive, and get them involved in the event asa specific company. Under normal circumstances it’s quickly as possible so we have a very specific message andalways easy to lean towards the technology companies a very specific community that we can deal with in July.but we would be really keen to get companies fromall industries, or at least companies from each of the eStrategies: Once you have identified the need andindustries involved, as quickly as possible. So we are the eReadiness of communities, you will be able tolooking for business from transport, banking, insurance, identify specific benefits as well and then the task willhealth and all the others so we have people from be easier. Investment now is the key to get things reallyindividual industries represented. That would help drive moving as well and this is one of the purposes of thisthe identification of projects and the right collaboration meeting in July. Can you provide a good example ofrequirements a lot quicker. We haven’t decided which how one particular industry may benefit from investingspecific companies yet as that will come as we progress in CDF?with this project, but ideally having companies from all ES: Well, mobile companies are a good example. Providingthe individual industries would be absolutely fantastic better access to better services starts to stimulate demand.as it would drive the spread of collaboration. Meanwhile, Someone who is trying to access a portal over the phone isthe involvement of industry bodies and industry eventually going to upgrade to a mobile device or iPad– aregulators, who have a very good understanding of the fast way to stimulate demand and one that will hopefullyneeds of their particular industry, would increase the continuously grow, leading in turn to the adoption of skillsubstance of what we are doing immediately. around technology, with these same people eventually contributing content and actually getting value out of it.“By the end of Marchthis year, we will have And while we are providing access to the government’sthe first 50 Wi-Fi hot- online services and web portals, the same benefits they getspots up and running from that hold true for any service company like banks.into these communities” Instead of 50-100 people standing in a queue outside the bank now suddenly people are finding it a lot easier witheStrategies: One of the motivations for the access to the technology. So we want to start structuringeStrategies Africa event, taking place in Cape our programmes so we can say to specific industries theseTown this July, is to include a roundtable event are the specific benefits for you.that explains the CDF, outlines its strategy andencourages this industry participation. We are So I think that is how we want to start deliveringlooking to bring people to the table who are outcomes against specific objectives for the private sector.looking for potential investment opportunities. That will help them understand how they can think ofIt will be important for us to be able to raise projects that they need and then support us and fund us toawareness that an investment into the CDF has develop more and more around this strategy.potential for you as a business, as an industry.ES: At this point in time I classify the stakeholders into This may sound a bit fuzzy at the moment because ittwo categories – those who are providing funding and is difficult to articulate if don’t have all the data and thethose who will collaborate to derive specific economic stakeholders on board yet. But ultimately what we areoutcomes. Those are not necessarily the same people. doing needs to satisfy business and economy in order forObviously there is a need for us to get the stakeholders this to be a useful way to deliver these projects.to join us to provide funding, but I think there is achicken and egg situation here as well with this sort Essentially, the CDF is becoming a delivery partnerof initiative. We need to demonstrate very specific, to government and business to provide the eLearningquantifiable outcomes before people throw funds at necessary to develop the economy.us so that’s the one thing we are working hard onnow, especially with the eReadiness assessment that eStrategies: Are you confident that the CDF is going towere doing. By doing this assessment, we can be more be able to deliver that delivery mechanism?scientific in the way that we structure the programmes ES: Absolutely. These are exciting times. Sometimes,and the projects meaning we have specific outcomes to as a technology provider you are sometimes puttingillustrate for potential funders. We can say to them, ‘if in technology without seeing the end results. What is fantastic about this foundation is that we actually have the ability to take our network and our technology and push it into the communities that need it and actually see people’s lives being changed. That’s ultimately what it is about. Schools that traditionally have no connectivity, for example, are now suddenly connected and this will help them in all manner of ways, from and eLearning perspective through to teacher development. It serves a definite purpose so it’s worth throwing our weight behind it.www.estrategies.co.za 15

Dr Gail Andrews is the Chief Operating Officer for the National Department of Health in South Africa andthis year will be chairing the eHealth roundtable at the eStrategies Africa Forum, being held in Cape Townin July. As well as using the forum as a way to monitor progress being made with eHealth development in the country, as a result of the 2015 event, Dr. Andrews is keen to expand on its ambition and has invited the Department of Science and Technology and the Technology Innovation Agency to be involved alongside the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and Department of Health. Advancing effective HEALTHCARE“In addition the Department of After the eHealth round table atTelecommunications & Postal Services, eStrategies Africa in NovemberI want to see the Department 2015, several follow-up actionsof Science and Technology, the were agreed by the participantsTechnology Innovation Agency and and these recommendations andCSIR also attend event, alongside the key action points were published immediatelyprivate sector.” after the session. The purpose of this was so that progress with the agreed actions could be Dr Gail Andrews monitored to ensure momentum for eHealth development is maintained amongst all relevant stakeholders in South Africa. Further discussions will also take place about the eHealth in the country at the forthcoming eStrategies Forum, which is being held on July 12-13, where not only will progress to date be assessed, new actions will be decided upon that will be designed to help shape progress towards a fully connected South Africa where citizens have access to effective technology-enhanced healthcare in both urban conurbations and rural areas. The National Department of Health will, of course, be participants at the Forum in July, with Dr Gail Andrews chairing a dedicated16 eStrategies | Africa

roundtable that will focus on driving the to ensure can comply with the National managed by the South African Health ProductseHealth agenda forward and will involve all Health Normative Standards Framework for Regulatory Authority formally known asrelevant government departments as well as interoperability in eHealth (HNSF) Medicines Control Council.established eStrategies participants from theprivate sector. Compliance with the HNSF will ensure The third and final eHealth action plan that a service provider will be able to obtain called for by the eHealth delegates was that Promoting effective collaboration between information through and from the shared an innovation competition should be setpublic and private sectors has been one of national infrastructure, and will allow seamless up in South Africa to create an enablingthe key successes of eStrategies Africa and integration with all HMSF compliant systems. environment for local innovation in theby helping to shape the 2016 event, the Delegates, therefore, proposed that: country. Suggestions were made for a a two-NDOH is hoping to attract the right blend of day innovation competition to run every sixstakeholders to build on the positive outcomes • T he coding standards required for semantic months to promote home-grown innovation.already started. interoperability required by the HNSF be Entrants would also be encouraged to look decided and published soonest to allow for outside the health ecosystem to bring in So, as we prepare for the next stages that complete interoperability compliance. innovations from other sectors that will helpwill be defined at the July Forum, what of deliver better health care to citizens.those actions and recommendations that • T he technical interoperability specificationsemerged from the last event? Perhaps the most of the HNSF be reviewed to address new “I think this is an excellent idea,” claims Drcalled-for action was that the current National technological developments since the Andrews. “An innovation competition wouldeHealth Strategy, published in 2012, should be inception of the Framework. bring to the fore the many innovations thatreviewed. are out there and would also showcase these • T hat in addition to the HNSF, a set of innovations to create opportunities Delegates proposed that an academic/ norms and standards be compiled to govern for funding to take them to the nextresearch body should perform a review of the and manage medical and other mobile level.current eHealth Strategy for South Africa that devices connected or providing input towill focus on performance and implementation electronic medical record systems. “The South African Government hasto date as well as provide a GAP analysis. institutions which are mandated to stimulatePerformance should be measured against the The NDOH is now is working in collaboration and finance technology innovation in10 eHealth priorities stated in the National with the Meraka Institute of the Council for the country. One such institution is theeHealth Strategy. It was also agreed that from Scientific Research (CSIR) to evaluate the level Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), whichthe review: of compliance to the HNSF by the current reports to the Department of Science and systems,” says Dr Andrews. Technology,” continues Dr Andrews. “It • A n implementation plan should be would therefore be important to involve developed with clear deliverables and “The evaluation of all Primary Health Care key stakeholders such as the Department of timelines and a well-defined funding Patient Information Systems has already been Science and Technology, universities, science programme. completed,” she continues. “The next stage councils as well as the ICT industry in order to will be the evaluation of Patient Information have an impact on innovation for the health • A n overview of eHealth best practice Systems implemented at hospital level. The sector beyond the competition.” should be compiled based on sustainability, development of HNSF is an ongoing process quality, scalability and the need for that aims to keep up with new technology and With this very much in mind, as well as solutions to be duplicatable. standards. hoping to deliver even more meaningful outcomes from the 2016 eStrategies event in • A multi-stakeholder forum be set up to “In relation to medical device standards,” she July, Dr Andrews is inviting representatives improve communication regarding the explains further, “they fall within the remit from these organisations to attend. implementation of the eHealth Strategy of the Medicines and Related Substances South Africa between the public and Amendment Act, 2008. All standards and She adds: “In addition the Department private healthcare system, and including compliance requirements for all medical of Telecommunications & Postal Services, the electronic medical record vendor devices are covered by this legislation and are I want to see the Department of Science community. and Technology, the Technology Innovation Agency and CSIR also attend event, alongside the private sector.” It was a sensible suggested action based The evaluation of all Primary Health Carelargely on the fact that the NDOH had faced Patient Information Systems has alreadycritisism that the 2012-16 strategy was not been completed. The next stage will beupdated periodically. “This was a good point the evaluation of Patient Informationand one that is being addressed,” says Dr Gail Systems implemented at hospital level. TheAndrews. “The review of the eHealth Strategy is development of HNSF is an ongoing processunderway, and it is estimated that the process that aims to keep up with new technologywill take 6-12 months. It is envisaged that thiswill be finalised by the Ministerial AdvisoryCommittee on eHealth.” Further positive outcomes have also emergedfollowing the second recommendation made atthe event, which called for any new technologywww.estrategies.co.za 17

Cape Town 2015 eStrategies’ChrisHullandWilliam Davisworkonthisreportwiththe tworapporteursQuentinWilson (blueshirt)andNtsibane Ntlatlapa eServices Round Table Edited highlights of the eStrategies forum focusing on the development and implementation of eServices across all sectors. This report includes a set of recommended follow- up actions that were established through consensus reached during the sessions with input from the panel members and interjections from the expert audience128 eStrategeiSetsra|teAgfriiecsa

The Panel Chaired by Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize,Deputy Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services Rapporteur Ms Loren Braithwaite ProfessorHlengiweMkhize Mr Lubabalo Dyantyi Kabosha Deputy Minister, Ministry Public Sector Executive MEADr Ntsibane Ntlatlapa CEO SACF of Telecommunications Group, Dimension DataNetworks and Media and Postal ServicesCompetency,CSIR Meraka Institute Ms Juanita Clark Ms Puleng Kwele Ms Makhotso Moiloa CEO, FTTH Council CEO, Executive Manager South Africa Broadband Infraco Operations, USAASAwww.estrategies.co.za 193

The purpose of this round table reluctance to invest in infrastructure in rural areas. In terms of financing the development andThe first round table discussion of the 2015 eStrategies implementation of eServices, a clear financial model isForum, held in Cape Town on November 23, brought needed that determines where finance is coming from,together key stakeholders from the public and who is providing it and what it is being invested in. Theprivate sectors to focus on the development and panel addressed this in an effort to establish clarity.implementation of better eServices in South Africa.With this aim, the delegates addressed the following Access to broadband services is a priority, particularlyagenda. in schools and healthcare centres. The panel looked to establish clarity on how this access will be achievedIt is widely accepted that any eStrategy is only as good in all areas of South African society including ruralas the infrastructure on which it is built. One of the key areas and under-serviced urban conurbations. Whatobjectives of the discussion was to determine the roles framework will be adopted to accelerate this processand responsibilities of government and private sector in and what are the key drivers involved?the deployment of this infrastructure. A focus will also be made on applications. South AfricaDeploying infrastructure is a capital intensive is rightly focused on broadband and free wi-fi but littleexercise and, whilst the private sector accepts that is being done in the areas that make the differenceit has a responsibility towards under-serviced areas, – applications. The panel wanted to establish a clearclarification is needed on what is already being planned understanding of how government could partner betterand by whom to avoid duplication of infrastructure. It with the private sector at a level that benefits theis particularly important to clarify the role of Telkom as nation and all citizens.the lead agency in this regard. Without this, short-termapathy amongst industry players may arise leading to aRapporteur’s StatementFollowing inputs from each of the panel members as well as lively interaction anddiscussion from attending delegates, the following highlights emerged from the session.eStrategies a valuable platform for We have the talent in South Africa to at the moment and the lack of clarity ismultiple stakeholders to work together, produce good apps. We need to harness creating uncertainty. Better engagementwith shared roles and responsibilities and this potential by working together and will enable industry to help deliver thewe need to develop this approach. across the key question is how to finance government’s development goals.all areas of ICT development. the development of these apps and eServices. Foreign investment is a gamble forGovernment is committed to developing industry – they assess which country willits digital programmes, which is to There is a lot of infrastructure provide the biggest ROI and then invest.include all those not currently benefiting development taking place – cables, SA is missing out here because of a lackfrom the digital revolution Central to this fibre, networks, F2H, F2B. – but we need of clarity by Government.is broadband roll-out, which will provide the content to fill those pipes. Withoutaccess to opportunities. content, all we have is a good internet Many cities are moving into managing experience. It should provide much more their services through the internet, butThe roll of the South Africa Post Office and not just for the rich as it is the rural there are no standards in place to make(SAPO) is central to this. If we can communities who stand to benefit most. this management more efficient. Betterdigitize the post office, then we can get coordination of effort is required.the internet everywhere. There has been massive investment in broadband and this will continue. The fragmented approach toWe need to focus on applications – and Industry needs to engage with development hampers our abilitythey need to be appropriate for each government more about what to get to execute efficiently, leading tolocation and appropriate for the users. out of this investment. And information inefficiency and waste.So, unique content, developed by local needs to be shared by Government withdevelopers, for the villages, the areas, for industry or they won’t continue to invest. Industry wants input into policy toAfrica. Government not sharing information avoid bottle necks forming. Government20 eStrategies | Africa

The ICT Policy Review is a key pillar of this discussion and the outcomes from this session will feed directly into the national eStrategy. The private sector must align with government policy, so share your frustrations and influence planning – and then let’s work together. Deputy Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Serviceswww.estrategies.co.za 251

We need to breakthe cycle of nottalking to eachother. We needto be open andhonest and worktogether to getthings doneDrNtsibaneNtlatlapashould provide guidance on how The digital divide is expanding and services is low. MTN is doing this andindustry can have this input. it must be addressed now by both will still get a RoI within 2-3 years. public and private sectors. If it is justThere is space for this interaction and government going to rural areas it will There is money to be made in under-the Government wants industry’s input create a them and us situation. Urgency serviced areas, but industry needs toand for industry to throw its weight. is required here. pick up the challenge. USAASA is there to help.All government services will sit on the In 2014 USAASA produced a reportinternet, so as well as providing all on universal access that concluded With Telkom holding 84% of existingcitizens with the ability to connect, they that money was being invested in infrastructure, it makes sense formust know what to do when they are infrastructure but not where it is most Government to work with the companyconnected. Digital literacy is a priority. needed. Industry associations need that to see how it can be used. information to share with industry andRegulation must be more agile - we are with investors. We should be encouraging andcurrently being regulated by litigation. supporting SMEs to provide servicesWe need different connectivities - fibre, The sharing of all available data on the - they will be providing the serviceswireless, TV white space. This must be state of ICTs in South Africa is vital. But and creating the jobs, but until weconsidered from both a policy point of the data needs to be accurate and up connect the front and back offices,view as well as a regulatory point of to date for it to be useful and to tell us we will always be calling for moreview. what is needed and where. We need to infrastructure. work together on getting this data.Yes, there is lots of infrastructure, but it We need to adopt specific standards,is elitist, so investment must go to where There is a need for different finance and not simply adopt those usedpeople need it - in rural areas and it models for areas where there is little elsewhere. At the same time, ourmust be technology agnostic. money and affordability of devices and standards and legal framework need to22 eStrategies | Africa

be the same for the entire country. 273There is a need for the demand side tobe considered - what does the end userneed and want. This will provide themarket for eServices and the businesscase will follow.Sweden example is worth consideration.There, a Broadband Council wasestablished to consider the end userperspective and jointly found solutionsfor broadband roll-out. Meanwhile,operators cooperate together in thesame area.Western Cape will have broadband toall Government buildings by 2017. Theytake the fibre to the door and the privatesector can sell services on that. A long-term agreement with ISPs will make thiscommercially viable.Sharing infrastructure makessense. Multiple ISPs sharing needswww.estrategies.co.za

management, however, to avoid There are bodies that exist to drive duplication and wastage. If Government change. But, the National Broadband is paying, then it should be available to Advisory Council hasn’t met since all. 2014 and its role is unclear, while the National ICT Forum is not being used as What the best equipment to adopt for it should be. We need a new platform each specific area should be considered for engagement and industry must be on a case-by-case basis - and the involved. knowledge gained should be shared. The knowledge economy is happening The regulator needs to be faster - but in South Africa and graduates for the it will never be fast enough. So, with 21st century are emerging. Can industry services developing without regulation, leverage these highly able people or will we need to find what works and learn they do things the old way? from them. We need to break the cycle of not talking The regulator needs to create an enabling to each other. We need to be open and environment, but needs the tools to be honest and work together to get things able to do so. done.24 eStrategies | Africa

USAASA is hereto stimulateinvestment andenable services toprovide benefits tocitizens. The rest isup to the privatesector but we haveproved that thebusiness model doeswork and you willmake moneyMs Makhotso Moiloa, USAASAwww.estrategies.co.za 25

Cape Town 2015 ChairpersonDrRosemaryFoster andRapporteurDrAndrew Robinsonpreparethisreport immediatelyafterthedebate The National eStrategy Round TableEdited highlights of the eStrategies forum focusing on The National eStrategy.This was a follow-up session to the morning discussion that looked at how theideas developed for delivering more and better eServices can be fed into the National eStrategy for digital development and for closing the digital divide. Private sector involvement in this process was at the heart of the debate226 eStrategeiSetsra|teAgfriiecsa

The Panel Chaired by Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize,Deputy Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal ServicesRapporteur Mr Henry Adams Mr Sheldon Quarmby Mr Lionel Benting Country Manager, Founder and CEO, Director DGITO Health, SocialDr Quentin Williams Intersystems Interfile Development and RegionalStrategic Research Services, Western CapeManager,CSIR Meraka Institute Mr David Mphelo Mr Gary Martin Ms Vanesha Palani ProfessorHlengiweMkhize General Manager Public Enterprise Business Head of Transaction, Deputy Minister, Ministry Sector, MTN Development Manager, Forex & Deposits, of Telecommunications Intel Corporation Nedbank and Postal Serviceswww.estrategies.co.za 27

The purpose of this round tableThis session followed the first debate focused oneServices and was designed to establish how the ideasgenerated to improve eServices in South Africa couldfeed into the National eStrategy. In doing this, thedelegates discussed a wide range of issues designed tolead to clear outcomes.As with all eStrategies Africa events, there was a mixof public and private sector stakeholders involved. Thisprovided with the perfect opportunity to seek to clarifyhow both can work together. How, for example, doesthe government intend to involve the private sector inimplementing its eStrategies, how will this relationshipbe maintained on an on-going basis and through whichchannels will government specify the contribution itexpects the private sector to make?Meanwhile, it was important that an appropriateframework for the National eStrategy was discussed -what are its key drivers and priorities, how will thesebe executed and how should they be monitored andreviewed? To ensure we make sensible decisions in thisregard, the panel discussed what the shortcomings were(if any) of the current National ICT Policy and examinedthe progress being made of the key success factorsfor the future IT industry as documented under theInformation Technology section of National ICT Policy,namely ubiquity, affordability, reliability and speed.The state agency who will take full responsibility for custodian of financial inclusion and delivery of digitallythe delivery of this suggested National eStrategy was assisted eGovernment) is not supported. SARSeFiling,also discussed with the aim of establishing a clear uFiling, e-Tshwane, e-Siyakhokha, for example, are allindication of the proposed milestones and actions success stories but each is a separate initiative. Thereand how continuous feedback to the public will be is substantial opportunity for SITA and the Post Officeconducted. The panel wanted the private sector to to improve service delivery and revenue collection. Theassist government in delivering their objectives. In this panel discussed how they can take advantage of whatregard, the panel debated the notion of how some sort private sector has to offer.of regular meeting between the vendor communityand relevant government actors and other stakeholders Key questions were also addressed surroundingcould take place. finance, specifically around the issue of Public Private Partnerships and the government’s approachThe assumption was clear at the start that the to them amid reports that they are no longer inGovernment requires a common eStrategy with defined favour. Similarly, questions about the Public Financeobjectives and real deliverables so another clear purpose Management Act have arisen relating to the fact thatof the session was to help to shape this. In doing this, companies that provide input into planning processesthe panel also took into account the fact that at the may not then respond to any subsequent tender and aremoment each Ministry and department (including disqualified from being awarded business on the samedepartments within a Ministry) have their own strategy. subject matter. The panel looked for clarification onEach attempts its own version of eGovernment without this matter.reference to what others are doing, how they couldbenefit one another and what could be shared or re-used. SITA does not take advantage of what is alreadyavailable, local government does not share solutions,and the Post Office (which should clearly be the28 eStrategies | Africa

Rapporteur’s StatementWith inputs from each of the panel members and interaction from the floor, the debatemoved on from eServices to the overal eStrategy, with the following highlights emergingThe National eStrategy is critical for the There are three pillars to the digital It is difficult to innovate while beingprosperity of the country. By 2030 ICT vision. Infrastructure - needs to be in constrained. We need to be brave andwill underpin our inclusive society. That place, use - services and applications our strategy should promote innovationvision is quite clear. that are affordable and useful need to be and that risks of non-compliance do not developed and skills, digital literacy - is hamper invention.We need to work together to implement vital so people can use services and buildthis vision and that means establishing them. SARSeFiling is 15 years old and a successclear roles and responsibilities, creating - but we are doing noting to share thisplatforms to enable closer working The Western Cape Broadband Initiative across government. Government, in fact,together of multiple stakeholders, is a good example of how the vision can is putting multiple systems in place,defining clear objectives and deliverables be delivered. Lessons can and should be without sharing best practice.in the plan and developing workable learnt. But guidance is also needed at thefinance models to ensure that national level, where leadership should An omni-channel approach works,implementation can be paid for. be clear and a common goal shared. using mobile, web and kiosks to deliver eServices. SITA and the Post Office areThis stakeholder involvement model is It is difficult to recruit and retain in the best placed to deliver these services tokey, but in eHealth it is broken in South ICT sector - there are not the skilled citizens.Africa and it must be fixed - as it must people available. This needs to be part ofbe in all sectors. the strategy. The Post Office has country-widewww.estrategies.co.za 29

presence and the ideal footprint to be Focus on the three able to deliver services. The digital Post Cs - Coordination, Office is ready to deliver but is being Communication and held up by bureaucracy. Meanwhile, banks are being paid to process certain Cooperation applications, when the state-owned Post Office could be doing the same job, Mr Lionel Benting which in turn would help finance the organisation. The fact is that many people in South South Africa needs to ensure it can Africa remain unconnected. Whatever exploit this, preparing now for the we do, we need to be more inclusive and Internet of Things. that includes Government departments talking more to each other. We need to build a catalogue of value-added services that improve as If we are not all talking to each other and they develop. So, instead of multiple agree that we should be, we will need to providers duplicating services, we need address the issue of how we do it. We to be replicating services and adapting can improve communication vastly by them for different requirements, using organising quarterly multiple-stakeholder different channels - mobile, kiosk, web. meetings from which concrete plans should emerge. Cyber security needs to be made a priority. South Africa is third in the list The pathology service is a good of global targets for cyber fraud and we example of a successful eService and need a strategy to deal with this more lessons should be fed into the National effectively. Strategy. It is a standardised platform and available online. It produces half a Banks understand the need to grow million reports a week and patients are the middle class in South Africa and to benefiting. do this, they need to understand the consumer, the communities and the After the PFMA Act, the tendering markets. process needs clarification in terms of allowing those who provide information Improving access to finance will help for the tender being allowed to submit people access services. bids to do the work. There is confusion here. We should not force people to do things digitally when they don’t want to. Some Trust needs to be built over tendering. people prefer digital, others don’t! Are all bids considered or is there an element of box-ticking? The lack of Banks have to tread a fine line between communication here builds mistrust. innovation and the need for a very compliant and regulated framework. The Mobile penetration is huge in South need to innovate must not be forgotten. Africa. We need a roadmap of what services can be provided over mobile and We need to promote local companies and these can be supplied quickly. We don’t break global monopolies in South Africa. need to reinvent the wheel, but use what Home-grown talent will create home- we already have and adapt it. grown wealth, jobs and deliver what South Africa needs and wants. We need to be looking for quick wins and the Post Office can deliver. Technology has advanced quickly, but We need to be pushing the boundaries consumers are advancing faster in terms of smart - delivering excellent content of what they are demanding - so we through continuous connection. That is must improve access and cost efficiency where we need to be an the technology to ensure delivery. needs to evolve to make this possible. It is important to provide simple services30 eStrategies | Africa

to encourage saving and to ensure people need to establish a reporting matrix to can save small amounts and can see those ensure delivery. small amounts grow. Industry associations need to be involved People don’t trust mobile for financial in any quarterly meetings that may be services - so education is key and trust set up, hosting, facilitating and bringing needs to be built. the right people to the table as well as disseminating information to relevant Why is mobile money functioning in industry stakeholders. Kenya, but not in South Africa? The quality of the banking sector could be the cause, While government departments need but CSIR could be a coordination group for to communicate better, industry also mobile money to change perceptions. needs to be better coordinated. Leverage opportunities for this through the South Any National Strategy needs to maintain African ICT Industries Association Forum. its focus on the key areas of health, education and government services, while An inter-ministerial committee has been interoperability should be at the heart of set up to drive the ICT Policy Review, things. Systems must be able to work with but no committee can run a successful each other nationally - and this requires programme. Has the DTPS got the power better communication and planning. to drive the programme? While the need to share information is Prioritise and focus on the issues - we paramount, we also need to define the need a digital champion for South Africa. information that will be shared, what we This person can present the country’s are going to do with that information and digital vision and be responsible for its what we are trying to achieve. We also delivery.www.estrategies.co.za 31

Agreed follow-up actions Following deliberations by the panel and interventions from the audience, the following six follow-up actions were agreed based on the day’s two round tables – eServices and The National eStrategy. eStrategies will monitor these developments and publish a report in early 2016 to measure progress being made. 1 A new Digital Office to be run by the DTPS will be formed The Digital Office will specify the key objectives of the digital agenda and be responsible for driving that agenda. It will provide thought leadership and coordinate all stakeholders in this sector. The Digital Office will require a figurehead, who will become the Digital Champion for South Africa. The Digital Office will also: l Bring all stakeholders involved in eSkills and digital literacy together to drive a coordinated agenda. This ensures that eSkills development will facilitate digital inclusion through a coordinated national programme for eSkills and digital literacy l Facilitate and drive an eServices standardization and interoperability framework 2 Further meetings to take place to improve communication between public and private sectors Quarterly meetings were suggested as a possible way for public and private sectors to work better together and track deliverables. Under current agreements, eStrategies is comitted to the Cape Town event for the next five years. Increasing the number of events is something that is possible but would require clear partnerships with the Associations, state-owned enterprises, public sector and the continued support from the private sector. 3 The DTPS will consult relevant stakeholders to revisit the mandate to make SAPO part of the delivery mechanism for eServices This recommendation is designed to ensure eServices are made available to all areas of South Africa in the most efficient and cost-effective way. 4 The DTPS will publish its core values These values include scalability, sustainability, inclusiveness, affordability and collaboration. Further Actions As well as these key actions. eStrategies Africa agrees to the following actions to be published in eStrategies magazine in print and online in early 2016. eStrategies commits to publishing the opinion of private sector stakeholders involved in eStrategies Africa in relation to what they want fed into the National eStrategy. Issues will include, amongst others, cloud, IOT and digital literacy. Further interviews with key participants will be published in early 2016 as a way to monitor progress on actions from this event eStrategies will publish and promote the DTPS’s core values32 eStrategies | Africa

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Cape Town 2013 ChairpersonDrRosemaryFoster andRapporteurDrAndrew Robinsonpreparethisreport immediatelyafterthedebateCape Town 2015 eHealth Round Table Edited highlights of the eStrategies forum focusing on eHealth and the potential of ICT to speed up the development of effective eHealth solutions and the provision of better healthcare. The discussion reflected on the progress made since eStrategies Africa 2014 and worked to gain concensus on a number of further actions324 eStrategeiSetsra|teAgfriiecsa

The Panel Chaired by Professor Paula Kotze Chief researcher, CSIR Meraka InstituteRapporteur Dr Gene Elliott Mr Gerrit HenningMr Ian de Vega Physician Executive, Executive Director, Health Intersystems Systems TechnologiesDirector InformationManagement, WesternCape Department of Health Dr Louis Rossouw Mr Martin Weiss Mr Siraaj Adams Professor Paula Kotze CEO, eHealth Foundation Senior Technical Officer, Executive Manager, Chief researcher, MRC-PATH Global Health Metropolitan Health CSIR Meraka Institutewww.estrategies.co.za Innovation Accelerator 35

The purpose of this round tableHealthcare is one of the key priorities of any nationand it is a service which benefits enormously fromthe implementation of good technology in the rightplaces. In essence, good eHealth strategies are essentialfor better healthcare. Of course, there are proventechnologies and systems that we know work, which iswhy this debate focused on the areas that will ensurethese systems are implemented quickly, appropriatelyand that those who need to use them are able to do so.After examining progress made since the lasteStrategies event in 2014, the panel examined theissues from the clinical perspective, in other words theactual use of the technology by the doctors and nursesand healthcare managers. Who needs to use eHealth,how will it integrate into specific environments,address specific challenges and what are its limitations?Debating this clinical perspective, the panel addressedthe need to ensure that this aspect of any eHealthstrategy and implementation will not be forgottenabout in the future and also address the issues thatneed to be addressed in ensuring all stakeholders areinvolved in the process.Another key focus for the panel was the need for level, were highlighted and its structured approach tomore integrated and holistic device management in eSolutions in Health (and other departments), whichSouth Africa. Monitoring medical devices can impact have guaranteed particular successes for the province,decision support for the DoH, operational staff as well were explored.as technical maintenance staff in remote clinics andthere is a need for some form of equipment register and Of course, we have an eHealth strategy in South Africa,this should now be included in eHealth policy making. delivered in 2012 and due to see us through to 2017.A single management platform will significantly The formal eHealth Strategy was published in 2012,help the DoH reduce operational costs and provide and was meant to provide a roadmap from 2012 todevice visibility at a national level. This information 2017. Delegates debated how to review progress andwill aid the future deployment of devices and tests achievements against this strategy, determine whereand provide the ability to track trends and manage there is lack of progress, determine if there is a need tosupport infrastructure and technical staff deployments. refresh or update or review parts of the strategy andThey looked to gain an understanding of the current planned to advise accordingly.strategy for connected devices - not in relation topatient information, but to operational information and The panel also discussed how we, collectively becomedecision support. It also examined how a DoH network more effective in implementing the eHealth strategy.could be established to enable communication with How do we ensure equitable deployment of systemstheir health workers as well as to manage their devices. across all levels of care and across all geographic locations? How do we ensure access to patientAs with all areas of eDevelopment, central to the information across the public private divide, and whatsuccess of any eHealth policy is the need for the needs to happen before ICT automation? And how dopublic and private sectors to work together on issues we leverage off private sector infrastructure to benefitof interoperability, integration, infrastructure and the public health objectives related to improved clinicalsharing of information in the public domain. There decision support and quality of care. In relation to thisare many areas of debate here so the group worked to aspect, the panel addressed the need to implement theshine a light on these issues with a view to delivering normative standards framework.shareable recommendations for our evolving healthcareinfrastructure. In doing this, lessons learned in theWestern Cape, which is ahead of the curve at national36 eStrategies | Africa

Rapporteur’s StatementWith inputs from the panel members and interaction from the floor, a number of viewswere expressed from which the rapporteur has collected the following highlightsWe must review the eHealth Strategy, A standards agency for eHealth has yet The Western Cape re-imagined thepublished in 2012. It is not a live to be established and one is needed. future with its Information Managementdocument and many things have There is also a lack of a full enterprise ICT Application Space and there arechanged in the three years since it architecture for eHealth. important lessons to be learned. It is awas devised. Is it still relevant? What patient-centred approach that deliversprogress has been made? How should There is little use of shared infrastructure continuity of care and integrated care. Itit be updated to reflect changes in and no roll-out plan at the national was based on a clear vision for deliveringthe technology and infrastructure level and no data model for the shared an optimal experience for the patient,landscape? Someone needs to own the national health record. with a clear understanding of how thedocument and drive the strategy. patient flows through the system. There is work being done on the national The exercise resulted in a clearMore publicity of the overall vision is patient master index, but with no access understanding of the need forrequired. People don’t know about it and to national population registers, this everything to integrate with the EPMI,not all stakeholders are on board. Tasks, work is limited in its scope. This needs to with clinicians having the ability todeliverables, milestones and activities be remedied, perhaps by starting from interface with the system.need to be defined, communicated and the bottom up by collecting data at themonitored. clinics. The exercise required patient profiling, effective costing and, by being able toThere is no interoperability roadmap - There is a need to register everyone map disease, interventions can be betterand we need one. using medical aids. planned.www.estrategies.co.za 37

There are still many challenges there are several case studies that to overcome, due largely to demonstrate their commercial connectivity issues. The metro viability. areas are well served, but things deteriorate in the WC up the west The DoH started using a private coast. sector app, with specific additions. It went from a decision support WC strategy has been aligned to tool to a full operational tool and the national strategy and the 2020 was adopted by health-workers, vision, which includes the roll- with 9,000 downloads. The DoH has out of all informations systems, three apps now. replacing ageing infrastructure, The adoption of these private sector developing a single platform for apps works in the public sector. the integration of all information, They can be monitored and are implementing good BI systems, sustainable by being funded by conducting operational reporting, the DoH and not limited to specific focusing on good governance projects. and growing ICT capacity. This all informed implementation planning More of these patient-centred and included milestones. solutions will be rolled out including those for immunisation and child If this approach is adopted, it must services. be aligned to standards. The HNSF helped the WC and was used in Private sector need to show public alignment, but there are still gaps sector what solutions are available, that need to be filled. that there is a need they meet, that they show value for money, that The Western Cape has an eHealth they have been used and work, they Champion. There is a need for such are scalable, have proven capacity a champion at the national level. and they can be a established partner. Public sector should be The Western Cape has been asked open to this approach. It needs to share its patient master index coordination and standards, but it at a national level based on the works. normative standards. This shows clearly that the normative standards With proper device management work and this is a big step forward and registration, the cell phone since last year. can be used as an effective eHealth device. A national device There is also a lack of highly-skilled registry will also compel the device individuals to drive progress, with manufacturer to comply with a a reliance on the private sector to single protocol. Could a normative implement and that drives up costs. standard for medical devices work? There is a real need for good BI There is a need that South African systems to manage the data and companies are encouraged to provide high-value outputs for any develop eHealth solutions and they eHealth system. need to be supported to do so. Engage with health workers and The Internet of Things will have a other staff when embarking on any dramatic impact on medical devices, eHealth implementation - they are with attention paid to issues of amazing and understand the need privacy. for everything to be done for the good of the patient. Change management is key to effective uptake of eHealth There appears to be a shift towards solutions by health workers. mobile technical solutions and Upskilling the workforce is crucial.38 eStrategeieSstra|tAefgriiecas

In countries where there is a single not obvious for all to see and there purchaser (national health) things is a lot of duplication and wastage move a lot faster. So, National and with an increasing disease Health Insurance could be the burden, our health system cannot saviour of national health in South cope. Africa. The models of delivering public Individual practitioners cannot care no longer work and need re- participate in the eHealth space. The designing. eStrategies Africa can only way clinicians can do so is if support and promote these changes they act collectively. as well as measure them and monitor progress. All eHealth implementation needs to be sustainable, scalable and be The DoH is obliged to report of sufficient quality. This requires information about the South coordination and standards. The African health service to the Normative Standards are limited WHO. It cannot do this effectively to electronic health systems. So manually and so needs systems further standards are required. in place to meet international standards. There is a need for better impact investment. The CSIR is funded but People do not like logging on to a commercial, venture capital model different systems, so we need to would deliver more commercially develop a seamless experience or viable solutions. A big shift but it people simply will not use it. does work. Don’t just send gadgets into The more integrated the system, the hospitals and clinics and expect more collaborative it can be. Private people to use them. They need clinics have huge traction and can training to do so. demonstrate this collaborative, integrated success. Technology enables people to take ownership of their health - but We need to build accountability into technology is not the only solution any system that can be audited at to the challenges we face in our the push of a button. health service. Clinics and hospitals are swamped We need to foster innovation and and overloaded. There is a lot of support local development, looking work going on to bring new systems outside the health sector to bring in into play but the results of this are solutions that work elsewhere.www.estrategies.co.za 39

Agreed follow-up actions Following deliberations by the panel and interventions from the audience, the following follow-up actions were proposed based on the eHealth round table and taking into account the recommendations made at eStrategies Africa 2014. eStrategies will monitor these developments and publish a report in early 2016 to determine progress being made. 1 The current National eHealth Strategy, published in 2012, should be reviewed eStrategies proposes that an academic/research body should perform a review of the current eHealth Strategy for South Africa that will focus on performance/implementation to date as well as provide a GAP analysis. Performance will be measured against the 10 eHealth priorities stated in the National eHealth Strategy. From the review: • An implementation plan should be developed with clear deliverables and timelines and a well-defined funding programme. • An overview of eHealth best practice should be compiled based on sustainability, quality, scalability and the need for solutions to be duplicatable. • A multi-stakeholder forum be set up to improve communication regarding the implementation of the eHealth Strategy South Africa between the public and private healthcare system, and including the electronic medical record vendor community. 2 Any new technology must ensure that it can comply with the National Health Normative Standards Framework for interoperability in eHealth (HNSF) Compliance with the HNSF will ensure that a service provider will be able to obtain information through and from the shared national infrastructure, and will allow seamless integration with all HMSF compliant systems. eStrategies propose that: • The coding standards required for semantic interoperability required by the HNSF be decided and published soonest to allow for complete interoperability compliance. • The technical interoperability specifications of the HNSF be reviewed to address new technological developments since the inception of the Framework. • That in addition to the HNSF, a set of norms and standards be compiled to govern and manage medical and other mobile devices connected or providing input to electronic medical record systems. 3 An innovation competition to be set up in South Africa To create an enabling environment for local innovation in South Africa, a two-day innovation competition is proposed. This should be run every six months to promote home-grown innovation. Entrants will be encouraged to look outside the health ecosystem to bring in innovations from other sectors that will help deliver better health care to citizens.40 eStrategies | Africa

Further Actions 41 As well as these key actions. eStrategies Africa agrees to thefollowing publications to be publishedin the eStrategies Africa magazine in print and online in early 2016. These actions are: 1 eStrategies commits to publishing the opinion of private sector stakeholders involved in eStrategies Africa in relation to the work they are doing to advance the eHealth agenda in South Africa. 2 Further interviews with key participants will bepublished in early 2016 as a way to monitor progress on actions from this event 3eStrategies will publicise the benefits of compliance with recommendation No. 2. www.estrategies.co.za

Cape Town 2015 Connectivity Round Table Edited highlights of the eStrategies forum which looked at the issue at the heart of all successful eStrategies and underpinning all solutions discussed in the previous three round tables - connectivity. Ensuring fast broadband is available to all communities in all areas of the country is central to being able to deliver better healthcare, education and all government services422 eStrategies | Africa

The Panel Chaired by Mr Pakamile Pongwana CEO, ICASA Rapporteur - Dr Ntsibane Ntlatlapa, Networks and Media Competency Area Manager, CSIR Meraka InstituteMsEllieHagopian MrTimEllis MsMakhotsoMoiloa MrWarrenHeroRegulatory Chair, Group Executive: Business Executive Manager Operations, CTO,WAPA Development, Altron TMT USAASA Microsoft MrShiletsiMakhofane MrGrahamdeVries MrArnoHart ProfessorHlengiweMkhize Head: Government and Deputy Minister, Ministry Industry Relations , Corporate Services Executive, Telecoms Network Developer, of Telecommunications Ericsson Sub Saharan Africa MTN TENET and Postal Serviceswww.estrategies.co.za 43

The purpose of this round tableThe purpose of the final session of eStrategies Africa2015 was to consider the challenges that lie ahead inconnecting all of South Africa to fast broadband and,therefore, to the services and opportunities discussedin the previous three sessions. The debate focusedon some key questions: What are the barriers, bothtechnical, commercial and others? The panel lookedto identify the problems and figure out concrete nextsteps. There are, of course, many challenges, so thedebate tackled those surrounding high cost and how tolower costs and how to increase access across the wholecountry.With this focus, deliberations centred on why there isnot more investment into under-serviced areas and therole of public and private sectors and how they canbetter work together.Of course, getting the technology is also key inconnecting the country so the panel considered thechallenge of picking the right technologies and notover-investing in buying kit which is too expensive forthe actual need. How and why does this happen?A significant amount of time was spent on all aspectsof utilising the spectrum to the country’s bestadvantage. What spectrum policies will support theoptimal use of spectrum for broadband (as opposed torevenues for the government from spectrum licencefees, or spectrum for mobile operators)?Like in other round tables, the panel considered the level - but to enable equity of access, there shouldforthcoming ICT Policy review and what should be be significant peculiarities between rural and urbanits priorities. There is a need more clarity for the contexts as well as further granular priorities in theregulators to enable them to move from this policy context of development and community informatics.to implementation, so the panel considered what These are crucial to ensure consumption - withouttechnology exists to enable the regulator to manage the which the sustainability of the ICT Ecosystem could bespectrum more efficiently? compromised.Can this technology be deployed for better access to Other key issues tabled for discussion in an effortthe spectrum - use of TV white spaces and open access to reach some for of commitment to ongoing actionto fibre were discussed and the panel looked to get were the need to identify the readiness of our systems,commitment on these issues. departments and communities for the eWorld, the need for a roadmap towards a Digital Government based onFurther to this analysis of the spectrum issue, the panel these areas, identifying a long-term Integrated strategyaddressed the need for several spectrum ‘clean-ups’ to address Digital Literacy and acceptance and thethat have to happen for South Africa to ensure its more country’s security strategy for data, privacy, systems,optimal utilization. If we do not apply this hygiene and cyber attacks.discipline we would simply be adding to the chaos as wethink about dynamic spectrum utilization in isolation.There is still no coherent cloud policy for SouthAfrica - even in the context of two major piecesof legislation that are currently under review. Thedigital divide is always addressed at an aggregate44 eStrategies | Africa

The spectrum is a scarceresource and allocatingit is important to enablegovernment to be able todo what it needs to do.ProfessorHlengiweMkhizeRapporteur’s StatementThe following highlights of the round table debate were recorded after deliberationsby the panel and interventions from the expert audience membersThe actual build of any network is very BBI has network plans for connection ICT enables the change we need andstraight forward - it is everything else in all municipalities. USAASA is working the more we have of it, the more wethat makes it complex. with them to incentivise the sector to consume. provide services to those networks.USAASA’s mandate is to ensure under- South Africa should re-use appropriateserviced areas are connected. These There is a perception that the standards that already exist. Developingareas are viable and the business case Government is not moving on this issue our own is time consuming and slowshas been proved. There is money to be - that is not the case, so it needs to down development.made in those areas. communicate what it is doing better. The compliance cost of security is high,There are 195 municipalities that require It is not about planning any more, but but we must ensure our systems areattention in varying degrees - USAASA funding implementation and allowing secure. Transparency delivers services inhas worked with MTN, IBIS and Ming the private sector to come in using the real time.in six of these areas and all three are anchor tenancy model.making money. Our vision is incredible, but our execution Working together changes lives. The is terrible. We have covered 80% ofAreas become commercially viable if problems we face are so great that no the ground, so let’s do the rest, fail, tryproviders change their operating models one organisation can solve them - so we again, give people a chance to get it rightto aggregate demand. must work together. and get it done.www.estrategies.co.za 45

Microsoft has trained 8,000 people in The delay is having a serious impact on We must make the successful deliveryICT and taken them from this education economic prosperity. South Korea was of connection to public bodiesto employment. The gender balance in a similar position, but achieved huge affordable within their existing spendof this scheme was 50/50 and 98% of advances using ICT. South Africa can do and it must be scalable at the samethem are still employed. the same. price. The key to growing a network is to ownWe need to define our intent - what we Should we be bolder and simply tell it. Every government department shouldneed to do, how to achieve it and how the broadcasters to jump to digital be connected to this same network andto measure it when it is done. now and free up the spectrum? If we the bandwidth should be shared at cost. cannot go directly to satellite, then weTV White Space is like a road. If we should develop a framework now for Collaboration partnerships shouldprovide people with a road, they will its allocation. We must not wait for this be formed between small and largeuse it. any longer. companies. There advantages to having a national brand that people know andThe spectrum is a scarce resource and We need to free up lower-end spectrum trust working with local companies whoallocating it is important to enable and both infrastructure and devices understand local requirements.government to be able to do what it need to be delivered at low cost.needs to do. But the available spectrum Operators are being constrained in what There should be incentives for largeris not sufficient so needs careful they can do due to the lack of available companies to have more wholesalemanagement as demand exceeds supply. spectrum. The government must act products designed with the customer now to free it up. in mind and not for the benefit of theSpectrum allocation is a bottleneck in re-seller.achieving the NDP so we need to speed All mobile operators are rolling outup the shift from analogue broadcasting driven by consumer demand, and Open access cannot be defined byto digital as this will free up high quality the investment being made is huge - regulation.spectrum. R100bn. We need to connect schools as we doThe Government is behind on delivering Trials have been conducted in Cape universities and then spend the moneyon its digital agenda, but it cannot Town where it has been demonstrated saved on something else.succeed on its own so needs a that you can deliver broadband usingbroad-ranged, multiple-stakeholder TV white space without impacting on We need to review what we are doing ininvolvement. broadcasting. terms of SA Connect. We are collecting46 eStrategies | Africa

data from multiple sources but it does 477not accurately reflect the currentsituation.Broadband roll-out will create jobsand that is a top priority, alongsideimproving our GDP. Delays in the roll-out is impacting on those priorities.The regulator needs to meet with allstakeholders in the TV white spacesector and thrash out a solution. Ifwe agree that this will transformconnectivity, then we should do moreand push more together.Sharing infrastructure is the way tobring down costs. MTN and Vodacom doit successfully.Broadband connect policy is four yearsold and the data on which it was basedis three years older. We are makingdecisions on information that is sevenyears old. So, are we really slipping downthe ICT rankings as publicised? This isharming investment potential and so wemust have up-to-date data on the realsituation.Data needed on wi-fi usage and whatdevices people are using to help usdefine the networks required.Start-ups who leverage ICT have agreater chance of surviving. We mustensure they do.The policy time-frame is three years,while the technology time-frame is sixmonths. More agile policy frameworksare required. They will provide adequateguidance and progress will be faster.Government needs to move fasteron building their own networks. Theycannot just rely on the private sector.Meanwhile, streamline funding avenuesso that the networks can be built faster.The tender process needs review - withan ombudsman to rule on if they arebeing conducted fairly.To ensure scalability, APIs should beconsidered for all installations. www.estrategies.co.za

Agreed follow-up eStrategies | Africa actions Following deliberations by the panel and interventions from the audience, the following follow-up actions were agreed as a result of the Connectivity round table. eStrategies will monitor these developments and publish a report in early 2016 to measure progress being made. 1 Operation PHAKISA ICT Delegates agreed that the President’s office would be approached with a proposal for an extension to PHAKISA to the ICT sector. The motivation for this action is to create a sense of urgency in delivering on the implementation of the excellent policies already in place, removing the barriers that exist to that implementation and as a tool to get things done. All further proposed actions to have emerged from eStrategies Africa 2015 will form part of the agenda for ICT PHAKISA. 2 Spectrum availability is a barrier to connectivity It was agreed that there is a need for closer discussion and agreement between the Department and ICASA to remove the confusion that exists over the rolls and responsibilities in relation to spectrum allocation. This dialogue will emerge within ICT PHAKISA and the notion of continuous sharing of information will be developed. 3 The leveraging of the commons will be advocated It was agreed that from now the roll out of all joint and shared infrastructure would be conducted in a coordinated fashion with the aim of lowering input costs. 4 USAASA commits to sharing successful finance models for funding connectivity roll-out USAASA highlighted its approach to funding broadband connectivity in rural and other under-serviced areas of the country and demonstrated the commercial viability of its approach. These models will now be made public. 5 An annual report on the ICT sector will be published Much of the collected data about South Africa’s ICT sector is out of date and policy is often devised based on this information. It was agreed that an annual report will be compiled about the state of the country’s ICT sector. An academic/research organization will lead this exercise and multiple stakeholders will also participate. Ericsson has already committed to participate. A key outcome of this proposal will be to develop a deeper understanding of progress being made and it was agreed that more accurate information, publically available, will attract further investment and speed up this progress.48

Our vision is incredible, but our execution is terrible. Let’s work together to put that right and use technology to change lives Warren Hero, Microsoft Further Actions As well as these key actions. eStrategies Africa agrees to the following activities to be published in the eStrategies Africa magazine in print and online in early 2016. 1 eStrategies commits to publishing interviews with key private sector stakeholders about their activities taking place in South Africa and elsewhere to provide a deeper understanding of what is possible and valuable case studies. 2Further interviews with key participants will be published in early 2016 as a way to monitor progress on actions from this event 3 eStrategies will provide an executive summary of the ICT Annual Report for widespread dissemination. 4eStrategies will provide an executive summary of USAASA’s funding models and a case study of how it is financing connectivity roll-out.www.estrategies.co.za 49

eStrategiesBe part of 2016 in collaboration with www.estrategies.co.za5360 eStrategies | Africa