The concept of financial inclusion underscores the importance of access to, the use of, and the quality of financial products and services. [...] The analysis highlights the importance of demand-side data in informing on the state of digital access and use and the identification of inequalities therein. [...] Objectives and main research question The purpose of this report is to assess public policy and regulatory outcomes in relation to the primary objective of promoting the universal and affordable provision of a wide range of telecommunications services in the interests of economic growth and development. [...] In the context of COVID-19 and the inability of large numbers of South Africans to digitally substitute to mitigate the public health and economic risks caused by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, it assess what needs to be done to redress digital inequality to prepare for the next inevitable pandemic and for people living in South Africa to more equitable and effectively participate in post-. [...] In 2019, seven years after the adoption of the NDP, RIA and the University of Cape Town’s Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance were commissioned by the National Planning Commission (NPC) to review the country’s progress in relation to the digitalisation objectives set out in the plan.
- Pages
- 84
- Published in
- South Africa
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements 2
- Executive Summary 3
- Table of Contents 8
- List of Tables 10
- List of Figures 10
- PART A: Introduction and Supply-Side Analysis 12
- 1. Introduction 12
- 1.1. Digitalisation and sustainable development 12
- 1.2. Objectives and main research question 13
- 2. Country Context 13
- 2.1. Country profile 13
- 2.2. COVID-19 impacts 14
- 2.3. Performance on global digital indicators 14
- 3. Policy and Governance Framework 15
- 3.1. ICTs in national policies and strategies 15
- 3.2. ICT sector-specific policies and strategies 16
- 3.3. Regulatory framework 17
- 4. ICT Landscape 18
- 4.1. ICT market overview 18
- 4.2. Pricing and competition 19
- 4.3. Internet quality measurements 22
- PART B: Demand-Side Analysis 27
- 5. Demand-Side Data and Methodology 27
- 5.1. Analytical framework 27
- 5.2. Data and methodology 28
- 6. Demand-Side Enablers 29
- 6.1. Device ownership 29
- 6.2. Digital skills 33
- 6.3. Identification 36
- 7. Digital Access 40
- 7.1. Internet access 40
- 7.2. Financial inclusion 45
- 7.3. Core drivers of digital access 49
- 8. Digital Technology Use 51
- 8.1. Main uses of the internet 51
- 8.2. Social media 55
- 8.3. Online work 57
- 8.4. Digital financial services 60
- 9. ICT Use by South African Microenterprises 61
- 9.1. Microenterprise characteristics 61
- 9.2. ICT access 62
- 10. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations 64
- Integrated policy development 64
- Competition 65
- Smartphone affordability 65
- Enhancing internet use 66
- Financial inclusivity 67
- Business tools for microenterprises 67
- Digital indicators for monitoring and evaluation 68
- References 69
- Appendices 74
- Appendix A1: Survey methodology 74
- Appendix A2: Comparison with census and other national statistics 77
- Appendix A3: Calculation of asset index 78
- Appendix A4: Calculation of digital literacy scores 79
- Appendix A5: Regression outputs - determinants of digital access amongst individuals 82
