The following information was received from SANGONeT on the 20th of April 09 to inform us about a very significant initiative and request our further support in this regard. DFA Board Member Pascal attended the first meeting of this initiative as reported on it here.
The South African National Broadband Forum is an initiative of four organisations (Association for Progressive Communications, SANGONeT, Shuttleworth Foundation and South Africa Connect) which share the goal of cheaper and affordable Internet access for South Africa.
The Forum invites everyone who believes that affordable broadband access is a national priority to express their support for the development and implementation of a comprehensive National Broadband Strategy for South Africa. A draft framework has been developed with input from multiple stakeholders at a workshop held on 24 March 2009 (see DFA report here) in Johannesburg. We believe that this framework can serve as a basis for building consensus on a comprehensive national broadband strategy.
We will present the framework to the new government elected on 22 April 2009 and propose that it be used as a basis for building consensus between all stakeholders on a comprehensive national broadband strategy for South Africa.
Please read and endorse the full framework at - www.broadband4africa.org.za.
I would also like to request that you encourage other civil society organisations and development stakeholders in your networks to endorse the framework.
Your support would be much appreciated.
Best wishes
David Barnard
Executive Director
Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT)
