Sentech gets rural areas

Sentech is again being tasked with bridging the digital divide, and this time is expected to roll out broadband infrastructure to the rural areas.

However, funding for this initiative is yet to be made available.

The company has been waiting for several years for the R3.5 billion it needs to establish a national broadband project, the wholesale National Wireless Broadband Network (NWBN).

Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda has said Sentech is to move from providing retail services, which has been a failure, to becoming the key provider of infrastructure for telecommunications in rural areas.

This includes building infrastructure to provide services to Dinaledi schools and Thusong centres. However, these projects have still to get off the ground, and R500 million has been earmarked, but not spent for the Dinaledi plan.

The state-owned enterprise's new role is clarified in the Public Service Broadcasting Bill, which is open for comments until 7 December. The Bill says Sentech must “contribute to information society by rolling out broadband infrastructure to the rural communities”.

In addition, the signal-distributor must ensure universal access to broadcasting services by rolling out the transmitter network, with a specific focus on rural areas. The company is also tasked with maintaining and ensuring availability of a robust transmission network infrastructure.

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