Clarity sought on ‘missing' Broadband Infraco entity
1 March 2015
I have written to Minister Siyabonga Cwele asking for clarity on the fate of state-owned company, Broadband Infraco, which was recently transferred to his department from Public Enterprises but has now vanished from the books of government.
The fibre cable network company is not listed in Budget 2015, apart from a brief mention of its enabling legislation in Vote 32, Telecommunications and Postal Services.
While Broadband Infraco has not received transfers of operating funds from its previous department as it generates its own income, it did receive a capital injection at startup phase and, in Budget 2014, it was stated that investment would have to be made to upgrade its infrastructure if it was to compete with other network companies.
In Budget 2015, the company and its activities are noticeably absent from the chapter on entities that report to the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services. Its only mention is the name of its enabling legislation among other Acts applicable to the department.