Gauteng Business 2016 edition

PROFILE
• To reduce the carbon footprint of the province
through Green ICT.
• To create employment in the ICT sector.
ICT profile
As the largest ICT cluster in SA, Gauteng has two
sub-clusters: Joburg and Tshwane. Gauteng has all
the elements required to create a large and successful
ICT innovation cluster in South Africa. These
include world class institutions of higher learning,
as the largest province economically it has the capital,
young talented people flocking from all parts
of South Africa, incubation centres, a large market
and the largest number of ICT multinationals in the
whole of South Africa. According to the provincial
government, all that is needed is a co-ordinated
way of bringing these elements together to create
an innovation ecosystem.
“One of the most important dynamics in developing
ICT and building the Information Society in Gauteng
is providing an advanced ICT network infrastructure
that is characterised by a high performance
broadband network and extensive penetration
that covers all areas in Gauteng without exception.
Infrastructure accessibility should be of a reasonable
cost that corresponds to the purchasing power of
individuals, in a way that enhances public accessibility
in remote areas where the means of access
to infrastructure and services are lacking. This can
be achieved by establishing public access centres,
such as community centres, post-offices, schools,
libraries and archives.
“Expanding of ICT infrastructure in Gauteng should
improve its status according to international indicators
of e-readiness. The fast-evolving nature of
ICT makes it important for Gauteng to take rapid
changes into account to be able to keep up with
the global development in the coming years. By
rapidly expanding of accessibility to infrastructure
in Gauteng, the ability of individuals to access, process,
and exchange information on the national and
international levels, for the purpose of promoting
socio-economic, political, educational, cultural,
scientific, academic and health activities will be increased.
Gauteng has a low broadband penetration,
therefore consolidation and new investments are
required to provide universal access to broadband in
the province,” according to the strategy document.
Further to this, the Gauteng province is home to a
number of dedicated and specialist data centres,
many of which service specific companies (for instance,
the 27 000 square metre. Samrand Data
Centre used by Standard Bank). Specialist data centre
operators such as Business Connexion are also
located in Gauteng. Metrofibre Networx, a company
based in Midrand, is a new entrant to the market and
competes with Vodacom and Neotel in providing
metro Ethernet technology. Ethernet technology
is a fibre-based broadband technology that offers
a cheaper alternative to connect subscribers to the
Internet or to connect different offices owned by a
single company.
In conclusion, implementing the strategy with these
goals in mind will ensure the stated strategic objectives
are achieved. The implementation will also ensure
the expansion of the Gauteng ICT cluster. In the
end, the ICT strategy has to be within the context of
the Gauteng Employment, Growth and Development
Strategy (GEGDS) and government priorities, according
to the Gauteng ICT Development Strategy.
73 GAUTENG BUSINESS 2016