ICT industry key to growth – Mbeki

According to a report an ITWeb report, Mbeki also alluded to concrete steps being taken to reduce call termination rates and make SA competitive in the global business process outsourcing arena. High termination fees are a major contributor to the country\'s high telecommunications costs. He said the special rate would be directly comparable to those for the same service and capacity per month offered in any of the comparable countries. The speech also stressed the importance of the role technology plays in reducing levels of crime through solving cases and monitoring the criminal justice system. In other developments, the government is to launch an information development company, InfraCo, which will provide greater and more affordable access to broadband technology. Public Enterprises Minister, Alec Erwin said InfraCo would provide long distance connectivity to the market on a reasonable cost basis. According to Business Report, he said the company would provide a network of fibre cables linking cities and towns across the country. This would provide the broadband access required for SA to meet its obligations in the establishment of high-powered telescopes in the Karoo and in other fields of research. Full ITWeb report The full speech Full report in Business Report

Politicians from most major parties say Mbeki is showing concern over the impact of high telecommunications costs on the economy, but they are disappointed he did not say more. ITWeb reports that Deputy Communications Minister Roy Padayachie believes the President\'s remarks should be seen within the context of government\'s central strategy of poverty alleviation. \'The President has made it clear poverty alleviation is still the centrepiece of government\'s strategy, and a lot of the measures announced are part of the macro-social security framework. He has emphasised that ICT will play a central role in this regard,\' Padayachie says. Full ITWeb report