ANC policy bungling keeps data costs high
18 September 2016
The effects of perpetual policy bungling, which has become the hallmark of the ANC government’s communications ministries, will be laid bare during a two-day public hearing into the cost of communications held in Parliament this week.
During the past two years, I have repeatedly asked for the topic to be included in the programme of the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, and it is with some relief that I recently managed to persuade chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi to hold it before this term expires.
The lack of availability of spectrum for wireless broadband services is the major cause of high prices. The unavailability of spectrum has created an artificial scarcity that has stifled competition needed to drive down prices.