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South Africa’s efforts to roll out the 5G spectrum will take centre stage when the University of Johannesburg (UJ), in collaboration with the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), hosts the inaugural Impact of Spectrum on Higher Education and Society webinar on Monday, 29 November 2021.

The webinar will provide a holistic explanation of spectrum, and an understanding of the current context and identify its possible impact for the higher education sector. It will also enable the wider society to identify strategic levers essential for our country’s development.

The webinar will feature a diverse range of local and international experts, including from the government, higher education sector and key role players in the telecoms industry. UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, will lead a session that will also feature a special address by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni; Wits’ Prof Zeblon Vilakazi as well as regional directors of Telkom and Vodacom.

Commenting on the webinar, Prof Marwala says South Africa is faced with fast-changing world characterised by deep inequality and inequity. “While the opportunities presented by digital technologies are vast, we cannot ignore our digital divide, which mirrors many of the other divisions in our country,” he said, adding that the digital divide is encompassed by access to the internet, education, skilled-employment, and technological innovation.

“It is not just along class lines but across gender and if you delve into the statistics, even race. Yet, in a world which is increasingly becoming digital, we cannot equate technology with privilege. This has been apparent during the pandemic at higher education institutions as students have struggled with connecting in a remote setting.”

The statistics are certainly damning. According to a 2017 Statistics SA report on inequality, the proportion of households with access to the internet connection in South Africa grew significantly from 23.9% in 2009 to 62.2% by 2017. Yet, as the data indicated, even though there was increased access to internet connections in households in rural areas, they lagged significantly behind to households in urban areas – highlighting a stark digital divide.

In a report released earlier this year, the Free Market Foundation (FMF) found that with the current regulatory framework, 75% of South Africans will miss out on opportunities presented by access to the 3.5GHz radio frequency band, which is imperative for delivering next generation 5G broadband services and emerging mobile services. As the report states, delays in spectrum “could create a situation in which over one-third of SA’s population are robbed of their fundamental socio-economic benefits – this is unparalleled on a global basis.”

“In order for us to stay competitive globally and to address issues of access, South Africa needs to push for 5G. 5G isn’t merely a marketing tool for telecommunications companies to stay competitive. We are increasingly going mobile and consuming more data. One can bank, reply to emails and Google the latest on 5G in a matter of seconds.”

Members of the media are invited to attend:

DATE: 29 November 2021

TIME: 14:00- 15:00

Zoom Webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93294568962

Issued by UJ