Limpopo Business 2017-18 edition

FOCUS
ICT Skills and SMME
Development to promote small,
medium and micro-enterprises
(SMMEs): The objective is to ensure
that small enterprise owners
and entrepreneurs are able to
create and grow their businesses.
With access to broadband and
to free and open source software,
SMME owners can be “part of
the global village”, according to
Ramosobane. Not only can ICT
empower SMMEs and entrepreneurs
to improve their businesses
in terms of marketing, ordering
and stock-taking, but there are
myriad opportunities for SMMEs
where ICT is central to the business
itself: web design, e-commerce
and online multi-media are
some examples.
A study has shown that 75%
of ICT SMMEs are in the Capricorn
and Waterberg districts. Better access
for other areas is one of the
goals of Limpopo Connexion. To
incubate, support and accelerate
start-up companies, Limpopo
Connexion wants to ensure
that the core location between
the major corporation and the
research institution and government
will support the commercial
research items. From within
the Science and Technology
Park there will be opportunities
for mentorship and access to a
range of information for SMME
operators.
Broadband for all
Rolling out broadband within
Limpopo is a key responsibility of
Limpopo Connexion. A priority
goal of the Limpopo Provincial
Government is to establish a secure,
shared, open access and affordable broadband Wide Area
Network (WAN) within Limpopo.
Broadband infrastructure also forms part of the strategic objectives
identified in the Department of Communication Strategic Plan, the
National Information Society and Development Plan, the Green Paper
on the National Integrated ICT Policy, and e-Government initiatives.
Both the Limpopo Development Plan (LDP) and the Provincial Inclusive
Information Society Strategy outline specific ICT objectives.
Several investment opportunities for the private sector are associated
with the rollout of broadband in Limpopo. “Limpopo Province
will be a key opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors,” reports
Ramosobane. There are the opportunities for both large and small
companies, “The major companies will do the construction of the big
fibre infrastructure and then the small companies will actually connect
households through last mile connectivity.”
Phase one of the rollout will see the city of Polokwane, the Capricorn
District and provincial key points connected. This phase of the project
will kick in during the third quarter of 2017.
Phase two will see broadband connectivity expanded to cover the
whole province of Limpopo. Given the geographic and economic
footprint of the province, a large number of companies, government
departments and businesses will actually be covered by phase one.
At this stage, phase one is envisaged to last for a period of three
years, but Ramosobane says that the active involvement of the private
sector may hasten progress:
"As government, we want to work with the private sector. We want
to say, the private sector must understand what is the vision of the
Limpopo Connexion and Limpopo Province in terms of broadband.
If they continue working with us, we believe that with the private
sector we can achieve the goal of connecting all of Limpopo quicker
than we thought."
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LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2017/18