EUP ASSIGNMENT 1
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
“Today, the Internet has an impact on just about every aspect of life. It has undeniably sparked
innovation and entrepreneurship, created new forms of public engagement and economic activity,”
stated Lenni Montiel, the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the UN
Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
A major contributing factor to the digital divide in South Africa is the lack of access to technology.
Due to poor ICT infrastructure many rural areas and townships do not have access to the internet
and inherently do not have the tools necessary to fully utilize technologies, applications and services
provided by business and our government. An improvement in accessible and efficient ICT
infrastructure is necessary to improve the access to technology. The UN representative for the
United States listed ICT as one of the most powerful tools available for enabling development within
our societies and economies, he recognised their ability to create new industries and transform the
markets. Economic and political divides within our country can only advance with the access to
information and services; once information is accessible for all will we see a paradigm shift in
inequality. As our Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said “Through greater access to ICTs
infrastructure, applications and services, more of our citizens can be integrated in social, political
and economic activities,” (South African Government News Agency, 2017) we can only ensure that
members of our communities become fully integrated and connected with society if government
establish communication systems that are affordable and reliable. Infrastructure should not only fall
upon government but upon the private sector as well, as private sector will reap the benefits of ICT
infrastructure although they do not find the high costs related with building rural infrastructure
particularly attractive. Through government intervention and policy, the private sector could become
more involved in the process of improving ICT infrastructure.
AFFORDIBILTY
There are numerous factors within our economy that contribute to the fact that majority of South
Africans do not have access to information and communication technology. A stagnant minimum
wage, the increase in unemployment percentages matched with the prices of data, smart phones
and broad band increasing every year creates a volatile trend where access to information and the
internet is seen as a luxury not a necessity. A realisation that within an ever expanding technological
world, access to the internet should become part of our basic necessities is necessary. Government
needs to take more steps to help increase the minim wage in order for South Africans to enjoy a
better standard of living. Unless internet access becomes free or dramatically drops in price, majority
of South Africans simply cannot afford comprehensive access to ICT technology. Ramaphosa has
stated that the government would begin the process of allocating spectrum to help enable licencing.
(Phakathi, 2019) The availability of spectrum to the telecommunication sector could lead to drop in
data prices if market conditions are just right. Perhaps better competition regulation within the
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
“Today, the Internet has an impact on just about every aspect of life. It has undeniably sparked
innovation and entrepreneurship, created new forms of public engagement and economic activity,”
stated Lenni Montiel, the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the UN
Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
A major contributing factor to the digital divide in South Africa is the lack of access to technology.
Due to poor ICT infrastructure many rural areas and townships do not have access to the internet
and inherently do not have the tools necessary to fully utilize technologies, applications and services
provided by business and our government. An improvement in accessible and efficient ICT
infrastructure is necessary to improve the access to technology. The UN representative for the
United States listed ICT as one of the most powerful tools available for enabling development within
our societies and economies, he recognised their ability to create new industries and transform the
markets. Economic and political divides within our country can only advance with the access to
information and services; once information is accessible for all will we see a paradigm shift in
inequality. As our Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said “Through greater access to ICTs
infrastructure, applications and services, more of our citizens can be integrated in social, political
and economic activities,” (South African Government News Agency, 2017) we can only ensure that
members of our communities become fully integrated and connected with society if government
establish communication systems that are affordable and reliable. Infrastructure should not only fall
upon government but upon the private sector as well, as private sector will reap the benefits of ICT
infrastructure although they do not find the high costs related with building rural infrastructure
particularly attractive. Through government intervention and policy, the private sector could become
more involved in the process of improving ICT infrastructure.
AFFORDIBILTY
There are numerous factors within our economy that contribute to the fact that majority of South
Africans do not have access to information and communication technology. A stagnant minimum
wage, the increase in unemployment percentages matched with the prices of data, smart phones
and broad band increasing every year creates a volatile trend where access to information and the
internet is seen as a luxury not a necessity. A realisation that within an ever expanding technological
world, access to the internet should become part of our basic necessities is necessary. Government
needs to take more steps to help increase the minim wage in order for South Africans to enjoy a
better standard of living. Unless internet access becomes free or dramatically drops in price, majority
of South Africans simply cannot afford comprehensive access to ICT technology. Ramaphosa has
stated that the government would begin the process of allocating spectrum to help enable licencing.
(Phakathi, 2019) The availability of spectrum to the telecommunication sector could lead to drop in
data prices if market conditions are just right. Perhaps better competition regulation within the
