maintaining the services. As a result, maintaining the rural areas has typically been
assigned the lowest priority. This has meant significant delays in repair or service
related problems and resulted in an unacceptable quality of service for the users.
There are also several network deployments into the rural areas that have been
undertaken by various ministries, departments and parastatals. There are also a
number of government programmes and activities involving the rural areas. These
programs are not co-ordinated and aligned. There is no doubt that there is clear
duplication of facilities or unnecessary repetition of work efforts resulting in
inefficient use and higher costs.
In view of changing ICT environment resulting from varying customers’
requirements, rapid technological changes as well as competition in the market
place, the government has found it necessary to formulate a new strategy to
deliver service to rural communities. It is envisaged that the strategy will address
the above mentioned concerns and make the delivery of services more transparent,
efficient and cost effective.
Rural Telecommunications Strategy
26 October 2006
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