Approximately 20 million people in South Australia do not have access to high-speed internet, communications and digital technologies, Minister for Communications and Digital Technologies Mondeli Gongobili told the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council in Geneva, Switzerland, this week.
The International Telecommunication Union allocates global radio spectrum, communications networks, and satellite orbits in communities around the world.
Gungubele said SA has experienced a “digital divide” and needs to develop infrastructure and digital skills to meet network challenges.
“Limited digital infrastructure and lack of relevant technological skills exacerbate the divide. This divide is deeply rooted in social, economic and geographical inequalities that persist as a legacy of apartheid.
“Achieving digital inclusion is vital, particularly in underdeveloped and developing regions such as Africa, where inequality in access to and use of ICTs persists, underscoring the importance of the UN’s goal of leaving no one behind.”