Executive Summary
The Rural Telecommunications Program was conceived to address challenges faced in
the provision of telecommunications service in the rural areas. The program is intended
to assist in integrating the rural population into the economic and social development of
the country by affording the affected communities access to telecommunications
services comparable to urban areas. Whilst this program has been in existence for more
than ten years, the issues and challenges encountered in the implementation of the
program has prompted the government to formulate a forward looking strategy that will
serve the current market demands. The strategy should be able to bear the evolution of
technology and markets in ensuring the provision of essential telecommunications
services to the rural population is done in an effective and efficient manner.
The Rural Telecommunications Strategy has defined specific objectives to meet the
demand for telecommunication services in the rural areas. The strategy also
recommends the development of the Rollout Plan. The Plan addresses the need for
stakeholder consultation and the importance of discussing requirements with key
stakeholders such as government, parastatals and the private sector has been
emphasised. The plan also addresses the critical need to consult with the communities
themselves. In addition it recognizes the evaluation of the villages to determine the
eligibility and priority for service provisioning under the rural program. It is important to
mention that periodic review of the plan is necessary to ensure it remains relevant and
up to date.
One of the most critical aspects of the strategy is the acknowledgment of the
significance of an appropriate enabling environment. This is in recognition of the pivotal
role that a favourable environment plays in enhancing and supporting efficient and
effective provision of service. The government is required to continuously assess,
coordinate and review the program in order to provide enabling environment for service
provision. The government is also responsible to monitor the regulator and operators in
order to make sure that the program meets its stated goals and objectives.
The role of the regulator in ensuring the program is executed in a fair and non
discriminatory manner cannot be overemphasised. Regulatory intervention is also
required to establish and manage a monitoring process. This process must ensure
consumers are protected from unfair trade practices and unreasonable costs. The
strategy also affirms the requirement of an equitable and efficient regime for
management of interconnection, quality of service, and the allocation of limited
resources such as frequency spectrum, numbering and rights of way.
It is universally acknowledged that competition is the hallmark of modern procurement
practice. The elimination of operator monopoly in the telecommunications sector has
also opened new opportunities for innovative procurement methodologies in the delivery
of telecommunications services. The implementation of the rural telecommunications
program should be subjected to competition and must be in line with the envisaged
Rural Telecommunications Strategy
26 October 2006
4