The South African government is stepping up initiatives to accelerate broadband coverage as part of its digital transformation ambitions. The executive is currently negotiating with operator Telkom to provide broadband connectivity services to the population.
Last week, the South African Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and Huawei South Africa launched a joint initiative to accelerate the development of the digital economy in the rainbow nation.
The partnership focuses on two key areas. These are improving the deployment of broadband infrastructure and building the skills and capabilities of South Africa's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The cooperation also covers other areas such as the growth of the digital economy, industrial digitization, cloud, and skills development in the telecommunications field.
This initiative is part of a wider cooperation agreement signed between the two parties earlier this month. It will see Huawei share with the South African government global best practices for digital economy policy planning and technology deployments, among others.
The collaboration between the DCDT and Huawei comes on top of the various actions undertaken by the South African government to accelerate the country's broadband coverage as part of its digital transformation ambitions. The executive revealed last July that it plans to connect 1.7 million homes to broadband Internet over the next few years. Negotiations are underway with public and private entities, including telecom operator Telkom, to implement the program.
In February 2022, the government approved the implementation of the second phase of "South Africa Connect (SA Connect)", the national broadband policy launched in 2013. This phase aims to provide 80% of public administrations, communities, and homes with broadband access within three years.
"Huawei and DCDT are both optimistic about the future of the country's digital transformation process, and our partnership agreement will go a long way towards ensuring that ICT drives the economy forward, taking every citizen with it," said Will Meng, CEO of Huawei South Africa.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
From Dakar to Nairobi, Kampala to Abidjan, mobile money has become a lifeline for millions of Africa...
Malawi votes in high-stakes presidential election Tuesday Economic crisis, inflation dominate vot...
Airtel Gabon, Moov sign deal to share telecom infrastructure Agreement aims to cut costs, boo...
Vision Invest invests $700m in Arise IIP, Africa’s largest private infrastructure deal in 202...
Even though it remains the smallest "crypto-economy" in the world, sub-Saharan Africa shows that vir...
Liebherr comeback: German-Swiss group wins 10-year crane contract with Transnet after 2023 corruption settlement. Green focus: Hybrid and...
Nigeria launches 1 GW solar plant to produce 2 million panels a year, aiming to cut $600 million in annual imports. The factory is expected to...
Metier Capital Growth Fund III invests an undisclosed sum in Watu Group. Watu operates in 8 African markets, with over 2 million loans disbursed since...
Mombasa's commuter train service resumed on September 17, 2025, after modernization. The expanded 16.6 km line connects Mombasa's main district and...
Surprisingly, only one African song made it onto Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The track is "Essence," a collaboration...
The Umhlanga Festival, also known as the “Reed Dance,” is one of the most iconic cultural events in the Kingdom of Eswatini in Southern Africa. Every...