Definition of Data

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Main Focus of Document

Guides ICT development, accessibility and its utilisation on a national scale to meet the challenges of the information age

Target Beneficiaries or Sector

citizens

Key Elements

The broad objectives of the National ICT Policy include five focus areas, namely:
2.1 ICT Infrastructure – Promote the provision of accessible, universal, affordable, reliable, modern and high quality ICT facilities and services.
2.2 Legal and Regulatory Framework – Provide for the creation of an enabling legal and regulatory environment that ensures the growth and development of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
2.3 Human Resource Development – Promote the use of ICT to enhance education and skills development and build a growing ICT-savvy nation.
2.4 Industry – Use ICT to create an enabling and conducive environment for the promotion of investment and the development of a vibrant and sustainable economy.
2.5 Government – Government as a user, purchaser, and regulator must support the use of ICT for the innovative, effective and efficient delivery of information and services to the citizen and within the public sector.

3.1 ICT Infrastructure
(i) Promote and encourage the existence of reliable and efficient ICT infrastructure countrywide, which will have sufficient capacity and network speeds, provide improved connectivity, and be cost-effective and adaptive to the needs of the country.
(ii) Encourage the private sector to continue their role as an integral part of the development of ICT infrastructure.
(iii) Promote competitive markets for ICT service provision.
(iv) Promote effective utilisation of all installed ICT infrastructure, which shall be so harmonised to contribute to flexibility and redundancy on a national basis.
(v) Encourage sharing and co-locating of infrastructure and facilities.
(vi) Promote widespread accessibility to ICT services.
(vii) Promote and encourage deployment and maintenance of networks that are interoperable on a national basis.
(viii) Promote and encourage deployment of infrastructure necessary to allow e-commerce and secure transactions to take place.
(ix) Introduce initiatives through which ownership by the public of ICT equipment (e.g. computers) can be increased.
(x) Encourage continued infrastructure upgrades and investments in new ICT Technology in order to maintain and improve the country’s strong position regionally in the domain of ICT deployment and usage.
(xi) Promote infrastructure upgrades and investments which improve international access and connectivity to global markets.

3.2 Legal and Regulatory Framework
(i) Review existing legislation, taking cognisance of international best practices, and foster a clear and supportive legal framework that promotes and supports the long-term development of the ICT sector.
(ii) Promote confidence for engagement with the information society through enactment of legislation addressing issues including, inter alia, computer and computer related crime, consumer protection, intellectual property rights, dispute resolution and security.
(iii) Establish a comprehensive legal framework for e-business and innovation.
(iv) Develop appropriate regulations that would ensure fair and equitable competition amongst service providers and promote rapid growth of new services and applications.
(v) Promote appropriate training for the legal community on regulatory issues, including law enforcement agencies.
(vi) Monitor trends in ICT legislation internationally and adopt legislation that will establish a framework for creation of an information society and economy.

3.3 Human Resource Development
(i) Promote and support the development of qualified personnel in ICT in a sustainable manner to meet labour market needs.
(ii) Develop the teaching of ICT at all levels of the formal education system.
(iii) Promote the use of ICT in the informal education sector.
(iv) Encourage activities relating to lifelong learning through the use of ICT.
(v) Encourage the use of ICT by all educational, scientific and research institutions, libraries, archives, museums and community centres.
(vi) Encourage the use of ICT for the delivery of distance education.
(vii) Encourage and support the training sector to adhere/adopt to internationally acceptable standards of examination and certification of ICT training programmes.
(viii) Promote the development of national certification and accreditation systems in the ICT sector.
(ix) Establish appropriate schemes of service for different cadres of ICT personnel in the government.
(x) Create an enabling environment for public and private sector participation in promoting ICT awareness programmes.
(xi) Encourage gender mainstreaming in ICT programmes and development.
(xii) Promote and support the development of appropriately qualified ICT personnel who will meet the needs of the public and private sectors.
(xiii) Develop programmes to attract and retain skilled ICT professionals in the economy.
(xiv) Ensure that opportunities exist to enable all learners to acquire ICT skills and be able to use them confidently and creatively to access employment or further training.

3.4 Industry
(i) Encourage local ICT development for the local and export markets by supporting and providing incentives for innovation and experimentation in software, hardware and ICT systems development.
(ii) Encourage the growth of software development by increasing awareness among the public and private sectors of the opportunities offered by different forms of software, including open-source, proprietary and free software.
(iii) Promote the professional recognition of technical professionals in the ICT sector.
(iv) Encourage research and development in the ICT sector.
(v) Promote participation of local ICT organisations in international ICT events for acquaintance with the international market, trends and establishment of business contacts.
(vi) Promote joint ventures between local and foreign entrepreneurs in the ICT sector.
(vii) Create a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and technological sophistication in order to support the extensive and innovative applications of ICT.
(viii) Promote ICT as a catalyst for business modernisation, principally for the tourism, fisheries, and offshore financial services industries, and to support small and medium enterprises.
(ix) Encourage the development of electronic content for safeguarding the nation’s environmental, historical, traditional and cultural heritage and in order to support ecotourism.
(x) Promote the development of multi-media based local content to support locally based, products, services, companies and activities.
(xi) Support organizations that are actively involved in the development and application of ICT, especially in areas of national significance.
(xii) Encourage and promote appropriate mechanisms that foster a dynamic climate for entrepreneurs to venture into ICT and related sectors or ICT-intensive economic activities.
(xiv) Encourage deployment and usage of ICT hardware and software to support cost savings and increased productivity in service delivery, purchasing, communication, etc.

3.5 Government
(i) Adopt high-level ICT leadership at the national level.
(ii) Use ICT for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of government operations and service delivery.
(iii) Encourage public internet access and the use of computers and other ICT equipment within the government.
(iv) Encourage easy, secure and efficient access to appropriate government information systems and services.
(v) Promote affordable access to computers and the internet at the community level.
(vi) Develop methods and services which enhance the use of ICT in the promotion of the country internationally.
(vii) Encourage and support the use of ICT to predict, monitor and respond to disasters (natural and man-made) and in environmental management.
(viii) Enhance collaboration and co-ordination in ICT development at the local, regional and international level.

Policy/Regulation Mirrors

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