cost – Yetu Infotech Collective https://yetu.coop Growing the Internet from Below Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:50:51 +0000 en-ZA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://yetu.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Yetu-ICON-logo-black-on-white-PNG-1-150x150.png cost – Yetu Infotech Collective https://yetu.coop 32 32 Digital colonialism under the Western model of technology https://yetu.coop/digital-colonialism-under-the-western-model-of-technology/ Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:50:44 +0000 https://yetu.coop/?p=1452 Big Tech is reinventing colonialism in the digital era says Michael Kwet in discussing centralized control of the Internet at the root of current problems like privacy and monopoly power and the associated rise of Big Tech. In this 2 part series, Michael Kwet of the Yale Privacy Lab presents an analysis of digital colonialism […]]]>

Big Tech is reinventing colonialism in the digital era says Michael Kwet in discussing centralized control of the Internet at the root of current problems like privacy and monopoly power and the associated rise of Big Tech. In this 2 part series, Michael Kwet of the Yale Privacy Lab presents an analysis of digital colonialism under the Western model of technology Originally published March 27, 2019

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Universal Service Obligations for spectrum to be auctioned https://yetu.coop/universal-service-obligations-for-spectrum-to-be-auctioned/ Fri, 10 Dec 2021 14:54:00 +0000 https://yetu.coop/?p=1200 ICASA has published the Universal Service Obligations fo the successful bidders in the upcoming spectrum auction in the Government Gazette of 10 December 2021. According to the Overview (1.7) government “policies remain as the universal provisions of broadband services including in particular, ensuring connectivity for public services i.e. education, health and government services. The policies […]]]>

ICASA has published the Universal Service Obligations fo the successful bidders in the upcoming spectrum auction in the Government Gazette of 10 December 2021.

According to the Overview (1.7) government “policies remain as the universal provisions of broadband services including in particular, ensuring connectivity for public services i.e. education, health and government services. The policies further seek to operationalise the New Growth Path and the Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) 15, which deals with expanding access to communications technology by ensuring universal service and access to affordable and secure broadband services by all South Africans, prioritising rural and under-serviced areas in order to stimulate economic growth.”

Zero rating NPO content

According to the Social Obligations (12.5.1) “A Licensee assigned spectrum through the auction process will be required to zero-rate all the Mobile Content provided by Public Benefit Organisations including .gov.za websites. The Authority will consult with the successful bidders and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the zero-rating social obligation is implemented without illegitimate use of URL’s during the licensing stage.”

Covering the country

According to the Coverage Obligation (12.2) within five (5) years of license issue, or within 5 years from the date the digital migration process is completed:

In respect of 700MHz or 800MHz licenses, Tier-1 operators who wins sub-1GHz spectrum other than the Coverage Lot must expand coverage at a minimum 97%of the population and Tier-2 operators that cover less than 80% of the population with IMT services must expand such coverage to at least 80% of the population

A Tier 1 or Tier 2 operator who acquire 2x10MHz (on IMT800) Coverage Lot will be required to comply with coverage obligations ofat least 99.8% of the population.

An “Outside-In” approach is prescribed. This means areas with the least current coverage must be connected first: “First build broadband coverage in the first batch of least covered of “underserviced areas” and/or municipalities (First Batch 3, then Batch 2 Municipalities), before proceeding to roll out finally to major cities and towns of South Africa (Batch 1).”

According to the Social Obligations (12.5.2) “in support of the SA Connect Policy that applicants that obtains spectrum through this process be subjected to obligations to connect public service institutions”.

Specifically this incudes 18 520 public schools, 3967 Government clinics, 1764 Government hospitals, 567 Unconnected police stations, and 8241 Traditional authority offices (tribal offices).

“The connectivity obligation should be implemented within 36-months from the date of the issuance of the radio frequency spectrum licences and the connectivity targets will be shared amongst successful bidders. The Authority will coordinate with the relevant stakeholders to finalise the implementation with successful applicants operators and the Authority will oversee compliance on annual basis”.

READ THE GAZETTE:

ITA-Licensing-process-for-IMT-in-respect-of-the-provision-of-Mobile-Broadband-Wireless-Access-Services

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The Competition Commission Data Services Market Inquiry https://yetu.coop/the-competition-commission-data-services-market-inquiry/ Wed, 24 Apr 2019 06:28:35 +0000 https://yetu.coop/?p=1249 The 2019 Competition Commission Data Services Market Inquiry exposed the profiteering of South Africa’s mobile operators.      ]]>

The 2019 Competition Commission Data Services Market Inquiry exposed the profiteering of South Africa’s mobile operators.

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R2K’s Alternatives to Privatised Telecommunication https://yetu.coop/r2ks-alternatives-to-privatised-telecommunication/ Wed, 04 Jul 2018 14:07:00 +0000 https://yetu.coop/?p=1028 In South Africa, as in much of the rest of the world, telecommunication services are concentrated in a handful of monopolistic private companies that reap massive profits at the expense of ordinary South Africans. But South Africa’s vibrant civil society is pushing back against private sector profiteering and, in doing so, is opening up space for […]]]>

In South Africa, as in much of the rest of the world, telecommunication services are concentrated in a handful of monopolistic private companies that reap massive profits at the expense of ordinary South Africans. But South Africa’s vibrant civil society is pushing back against private sector profiteering and, in doing so, is opening up space for alternatives to privatised telecommunications.

This research paper draws on case studies of alternative models from around the world that will hopefully provide examples for South Africa to follow. It further explores R2K’s efforts to democratise communications in the country by advocating alternatives that uphold democratic and egalitarian principles in telecommunications delivery.

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R2K’s Activist Guide to the Right2Communicate https://yetu.coop/r2ks-activist-guide-to-the-right2communicate/ Wed, 15 Apr 2015 09:14:00 +0000 https://yetu.coop/?p=979 This Activist Guide covers the following: The history of the right to communicate in South Africa: why does the communications landscape look the way it does? The current state of the right to communicate in South Africa: why are costs so high and why is the internet still so inaccessible? Campaigning ideas on the right to communicate.]]>

This Activist Guide covers the following:

  • The history of the right to communicate in South Africa: why does the communications landscape look the way it does?
  • The current state of the right to communicate in South Africa: why are costs so high and why is the internet still so inaccessible?
  • Campaigning ideas on the right to communicate.
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R2K’s activist’s guide to Internet access https://yetu.coop/r2ks-activists-guide-to-internet-access/ Mon, 30 Mar 2015 08:44:00 +0000 https://yetu.coop/?p=960 ]]>

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R2K’s Lived Cost of Communication https://yetu.coop/r2k-lived-cost/ Sat, 21 Mar 2015 13:42:00 +0000 https://yetu.coop/?p=1023 What is the real cost of communications for ordinary people? R2K, in collaboration with the LINK Centre at Wits, has conducted a study on the lived cost of communications in South Africa. For many poor households in South Africa the cost of high telecommunications can have a crippling effect, forcing many to cut back on […]]]>

What is the real cost of communications for ordinary people? R2K, in collaboration with the LINK Centre at Wits, has conducted a study on the lived cost of communications in South Africa. For many poor households in South Africa the cost of high telecommunications can have a crippling effect, forcing many to cut back on other necessities just to be able to afford airtime.

This study – conducted in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town – explores these lived experiences in depth and asks ordinary South Africans if they feel they are getting the quality of service and value for money they expect.

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