LETTER: SA ICT policy set to ‘halt dynamism’ with increased state oversight
Information and communication technology (ICT) is at the heart of a modern economy. PCs, cellphones, mobile devices, the internet and other systems have played an important role in re-organising work and personal lives. Trends such as "big data" and the "Internet of things" will continue to radically alter the workplace and create new business models. Change is inevitable and constant. New, more advanced devices and forms of communication are continuously evolving. Savvy countries have recognised this and have adopted policies that encourage innovation in their ICT industries. Sadly, SA isn’t one of them. The tiny, post-Soviet nation of Estonia provides a good example of government-induced ICT dynamism. Post-independence, the Estonian parliament recognised that open communications and the free flow of knowledge are essential for modern networked societies to encourage competition. It privatised the state-owned telecommunications company and granted three mobile operator licences. Pr...
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