Limpopo Business 2017-18 edition

OVERVIEW
Information and communications
technology (ICT)
Limpopo is getting better connected.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Limpopo Connexion is
rolling out broadband
infrastructure.
• 949 community members
received ICT skills training
in the past year.
When leaders and policy-makers met in the fourth quarter
of 2016 at the Limpopo Economic Summit, one of the
six pillars identified as pivotal to the province’s progress
was ICT and the knowledge economy.
A wide area network (WAN) for the province was listed as a key
objective and it was decided that a combination of fibre and wireless
technology should be used to reduce cost. A science and technology
master plan is also to be developed.
The body responsible for rolling out the infrastructure is Limpopo
Connexion, a subsidiary of the Limpopo Economic Development
Agency (LEDA). The first phase began in 2017 with broadband infrastructure
in Polokwane as the focus. The second phase will cover more
than 80% of the provincial population, as per the provincial spatial
development framework.
In the 2016/17 financial year, 949 community members received ICT skills
training in a programme run by the Limpopo Department of Economic
Development, Environment and
Tourism (LEDET).
One way of achieving higher
connectivity in rural areas is
to focus on schools and libraries.
The Universal Service and
Access Agency of South Africa
(USAASA) provides ICT services
to public and private schools,
hospital and training colleges.
Limpopo is one of five provinces
that USAASA concentrates on
with respect to school connectivity:
more than R25-million has
been spent since 2010 on this
project and more than 400 smart
devices distributed.
Private telecommunications
companies also have community
responsibilities in terms
of the National Development
Plan. They must help connect
under-serviced areas to the telecommunications
and Internet
networks.
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