South African Communications Forum(SACF)

  The SACF brings together the Public Sector, Private sector and civil society organisations with the goal of bridging the digital divide  

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ICT Achievers Awards 2016 NOMINATIONS are open!

Have you nominated? If not, what are you waiting for?

You only have 2 WEEKS left to nominate yourself or another outstanding individual or organisation.

For more info, check out the Awards website: www.ictachieversawards2016.org.za

Get nominating!

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NOMINATIONS for the ICT Achievers Awards 2016 are officially open! You don't have to be in the ICT sector to nominate - YES you heard right...anyone can nominate.  What's more...you can even nominate yourself!  

With 7 amazing categories, we are all about recognising and celebrating the VERY BEST in the industry.

Check out the Awards website for details and START NOMINATING TODAY! http://nandy.co.za/ictawards2016/

Deadline for nominations is 23 September 2016!

Don't delay!

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Top ICT Industry leaders hold ”Frank and Open Dialogue” with

Minister Siyabonga Cwele

On Friday evening, 2nd of October, over 25 of the CEO’s, Chairpersons and board members of some of the top companies in the ICT industry met with Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister, Siyabonga Cwele, at a dinner hosted by the South African Communications Forum (SACF). Industry participants included those from MTN, Vodacom Telkom, Cell C, Dimension Data, SITA, Neotel, ZACR, Broadband Infraco, Ericsson, Huawei, Microsoft and others.

The topics of discussion were agreed beforehand and included: the National ICT Forum, investment by the ICT industry, the status of several outstanding policy initiatives, implementation of SA Connect (the national broadband policy) and the inauguration of the ICT Charter Council, which met for the first time on 1st of October. The newly elected Chairperson of the ICT Charter Council, Nokuzola Ehrens, also addressed the industry leaders and pledged her willingness to listen to the concerns and perspectives of industry.

“We were especially delighted that Minister Cwele shared his vision and the nuances of his thinking on topics of significance to industry leaders. The meeting was an important platform to engage in frank and open dialogue on issues of primary concern to the Minister and to the industry leaders,” said SACF Chief Executive Office, Loren Braithwaite Kabosha.

“We also appreciate that Minister Cwele invited the Acting Director General and all of the DDG’s of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services to attend so that they could hear directly from industry their perspective on important policy initiatives.”

In addition to the company leaders, several others ICT industry association heads also attended included those from the BITF, WAPA, IITPSA, FTTH, ITA, and the WIFI Forum.

Background: The South African Communications Forum (SACF) is a non-profit industry association whose members include some of the leading stakeholders in the Telecommunication, Electronic Media, Postal, Information Technology, Electronic Manufacturing and Broadcasting Industries. SACF represents several manufacturers of Set Top Boxes some of whom are 100% black-owned manufacturers, among other industry players.

Contact: Loren Braithwaite Kabosha, Chief Executive Officer, SACF [email protected] 011 315 0590

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             South African  ICT industry associations make history

In a first for South African ICT, 10  industry associations have held an initial meeting to commit themselves to reducing fragmentation in the industry and to ensure that there is a common message on issues of general industry concern.

Representatives of the Fibre to the Home Council Africa (FTTH Council Africa), Institute of Information Technology Professionals of South Africa (IITPSA), Internet Society Gauteng (ISOC – Gauteng), Internet Society South Africa (ISOC – ZA), Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), South African Communications Forum (SACF), Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA), Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association (WASPA) and the Wi-Fi Forum of South Africa (WFFSA) discussed calls from the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services and the ICASA CEO for industry representatives to speak with one voice.

According to Loren Braithwaite-Kabosha of the SACF: “Each industry association has its unique mandate and focus. However, there has been pressure from the regulator and Parliament for the ICT industry to ‘speak with one voice’ on issues. While it is clear that it is not always feasible for industry to speak unanimously, the success of the meeting clearly indicates that there are areas where industry bodies could collaborate better and have a common message. This could be powerful when dealing with certain issues.”

Braithwaite-Kabosha – who co-chaired the meeting with Dominic Cull of ISPA – confirmed that there was no call for a consolidation of associations and that each association would respect the role and mandate of the others, including the positive benefits of cross- membership.

During the meeting, each association gave a presentation focusing on the most pressing matters facing their members. This was followed by discussion and an attempt to distil these issues into a shorter and relatively well-supported list. The outcome of the meeting is that associations will undertake an initial period of deeper collaboration in the form of information sharing as well as the development of industry-wide positions on issues varying from constraints on critical inputs for industry, such as spectrum and network deployment, to online content regulation.

A successful engagement could lead to a reduction in replication and strengthen the ability of the industry to engage with the regulator and government as well as other stakeholders outside of the industry. The associations will then look at expanding the initiative to cover activities such as digital literacy roadshows and skills training.

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Spectrum delay keeps South Africa in the slow lane, writes Thabiso Mochiko

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SACF POSTPONES THE INAUGRAL ICT ACHIEVERS AWARDS 2015

Tuesday 15th September 2015

The South African Communications Forum (SACF) has postponed the Inaugural ICT Achievers Awards which were scheduled to take place on the 2nd October 2015.  

The postponement of the awards is to ensure that the awards are nationally inclusive. The majority of nominations received to date were from Companies based in Gauteng Province. The SACF Board felt that in order to ensure the legitimacy of a credible ICT industry awards event, it is necessary to extend the process to get full participation from South Africa’s ICT players from across South Africa.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to members of the SACF and its stakeholders. We appreciate your commitment to this event.  The entries received thus far for all award categories are still valid and a new date for the awards will be communicated in due course.

The SACF Chairperson, Lucky Masilela has confirmed that the SACF remains committed to providing a national platform for identifying worthy ICT personalities who have spearheaded innovative and transformational initiatives in the sector, "The SACF aims to be inclusive by broadening participation in the ICT Achievers Awards from companies across the nation." explained Mr. Masilela. “We wanted this first Awards Ceremony to be of such quality and to be so memorable and impressive that it will launch the Awards into orbit for a long and successful future”.

Themba Kinana, Government Relations Group Executive for lead ICT Awards project sponsor and Platinum SACF Member, Vodacom, confirmed their continued support and anticipation of the ICT Achievers Awards. “As a SACF member, we are committed to the Vision of ICT as an inclusive enabler of economic growth and greater social cohesiveness. Our sponsorship of the awards takes us a step closer towards that goal”.

Other members of the SACF and government stakeholders have also indicated their continued support and commitment to ensure that through the successful launch of the ICT Achievers Awards the Champions of excellence and innovation of the South African ICT industry are duly recognised and celebrated.

   Contact:

Loren Braithwaite Kabosha,

Chief Executive Officer, SACF

[email protected]

011 315 0590

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Images from the SACF ICT Achievers Awards Launch

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SACF launches ICT Achievers Awards with the Support of the Deputy Minister of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Honourable Hlengiwe Mkhize

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

ICT ACHIEVERS AWARDS TO CELEBRATE INDUSTRY'S LEADING POSITION IN SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY

The ICT (Information & Communications Technology) and Broadcast industries occupy a pivotal position within the greater South African economy, contributing as much as 10% to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"Not only does ICT inject a much-needed R95 billion into the local economy annually, the fact that the sector is a very visible one means it has the capacity to change perceptions and to advance South Africa's transformation goals," said Deputy Minister of Telecommunications & Postal Services, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize. Prof. Mkhize who will be one of the speakers at the Awards Gala Dinner on 2 October at Vodacom World Dome. .

SACF chairperson Lucky Masilela said that by providing a platform for identifying worthy ICT personalities who have spearheaded innovative and transformational initiatives in the sector, the Forum was staying true to its empowerment agenda. "The SACF aims to reduce inequality by broadening participation in the ICT sector for the ultimate benefit of every single South African," explained Mr Masilela.

According to Themba Kinana, SACF board member, the awards will help to position ICT as an inclusive enabler of greater social cohesiveness. "Communication brings us all closer and nothing enables more communication, more often, than ICT. As a SACF member, we are committed to the vision to democratise communications and our sponsorship of these awards takes us a step closer towards that goal," added Mr Kinana

The awards are unique in that both the public as well as the ICT and Broadcast industry can nominate individuals within the categories of:

• Entrepreneurship and SMME • Community Development • Local Content Production • Innovation • Future Leader • Women in ICT • Honorary Lifetime Achievers Award • Innovation for Africa Award

Nominations are not limited to members of the SACF and are open to members of the South African Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Industry.

Members of SACF include industry leaders such as Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, SABC, Broadband Infraco, Cell C, SA Post Office Sentech, Dimension Data, Neotel, eTv, Ericsson and Huawei, amongst others. As a Platinum SACF Member, Vodacom was assigned the lead role in managing the SACF ICT Achievers Awards.

For more information on the nomination process for the SACF ICT Achiever's Awards, email [email protected] or contact the Awards Organisers for partnership opportunities at [email protected]

ENDS

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The SACF Newsletter for Quarter 1 of 2015 is now available for download on:

http://sacomforum.org.za/media/com_form2content/documents/c10/a142/f68/SACF%20Newsletter%20Quarter%201%202015.pdf

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SatCom Africa 2015

This afternoon at SatCom Africa 2015; Loren Braithwaite-Kabosha, CEO, South African Communications Forum , will be  leading a Roundtable discussion on “Advancing LTE networks towards 5G”

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!!!!!! NEWS JUST IN !!!!!!!

SACF CEO Loren Braithwaite Kabosha appointed Chairperson of Economic Chamber of National ICT Forum. Addressing ICT skills, electronic manufacturing, SMME development and innovation

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SACF CEO, Loren Braithwaite Kabosha, along with the Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services , Hon. Hlengiwe Mkhize are commemorating the annual “ Girls in ICT Day “ in Mpumalanga where opportunities in the ICT sector will be shared with learners and possible career options discussed

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Manufacturers Response on the BDM Policy Amendment

Download: http://sacomforum.org.za/media/com_form2content/documents/c11/a141/f72/Manufacturers%20response%20on%20the%20BDM%20Policy%20Amendment.pdf

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Picture taken at a Panel Session for Students studying towards an  MA in the field of ICT Policy and Regulation at WITS University. Date: Thursday 26/03/2015

 The panel consisted of:

1) Loren Braithwaite-Kabosha, SACF;

2) Mlamli Booi, Z-Coms; 

3) Vuyo Mhlati, Siyaya TV Consortium 

The panel addressed students from across the African continent about the state of innovation and technological convergence in the electronic communications sector and broad ICT sector from a continental and local perspective.