South Africa’s ambition to achieve universal digital connectivity by 2030 is under pressure. While Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have expanded coverage impressively in urban areas, rural and underserved communities remain digitally isolated. Without decisive policy action, this divide threatens inclusive economic growth, education, healthcare access, and digital citizenship.
One of the most effective—and underleveraged—policy levers is enabling shared telecommunications infrastructure under a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework. This brief recommends a national policy realignment to unlock the efficiencies, equity, and economic value of infrastructure co-builds and fair deployment rules.
The Challenge
Today, telecom infrastructure deployment in South Africa is hindered by three major issues:
- Fragmented regulations and local government red tape, especially in obtaining wayleaves, permits, and access rights.
- Costly duplication of infrastructure by MNOs building separate towers and backhaul in the same geographic areas.
- Limited incentives for infrastructure sharing, particularly in regions where the return on investment is marginal or negative.
These constraints delay network expansion, inflate consumer prices, and reinforce geographic inequalities in digital access.
Why This Matters for DPI
Telecom infrastructure is no longer a private-sector concern alone. It serves as the foundational “connectivity layer” in any DPI ecosystem, enabling critical digital services such as:
- Identity (e.g., digital ID and SIM registration)
- Payments (e.g., mobile wallets, social grants)
- Data exchange systems (e.g., for schools, hospitals, and SMMEs)
If infrastructure is inefficiently deployed or hoarded, the entire DPI stack becomes inaccessible to millions—especially in rural South Africa. Shared infrastructure, on the other hand, unlocks faster rollout, lowers costs, and ensures no region is left behind.
Strategic Policy Recommendations
To bring telecom infrastructure into alignment with South Africa’s DPI vision, the following actions are proposed:
1. Mandate Infrastructure Sharing Through National Legislation
Introduce a dedicated national framework that makes passive infrastructure sharing compulsory in priority zones—especially rural and peri-urban areas. This should include sharing of towers, ducts, power systems, and backhaul, with oversight by ICASA to ensure compliance and resolve disputes.
2. Operationalize the Rapid Deployment Policy
Accelerate the real-world implementation of South Africa’s Rapid Deployment Policy. This includes harmonizing municipal permitting systems, digitizing the wayleave application process, and launching a single-window online platform that allows operators to get faster, standardized approvals across provinces.
3. Enable Spectrum Trading and Leasing Mechanisms
Reform spectrum policy to allow for a regulated secondary market where underutilized frequency can be traded or leased. This would allow smaller providers and new entrants to piggyback on existing capacity without needing to acquire expensive spectrum upfront.
4. Direct Public Investment into Rural Co-Builds
Use the Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF) and state infrastructure grants to co-finance tower and backhaul builds in rural districts. These funds can be targeted toward communities with the lowest digital inclusion indicators, unlocking connectivity while also creating local employment through SMME participation in deployment and maintenance.
5. Standardize Interoperability and Infrastructure Registries
Require that all new infrastructure conforms to open standards that support interoperability, especially for future AI and cloud-based services. A central registry of shared infrastructure—covering locations, capacity, and availability—should be maintained to facilitate transparent planning and coordination.
The Urgency
South Africa stands at a pivotal moment. The rapid evolution of digital services—from e-health to e-commerce—demands a robust, inclusive, and efficient connectivity layer. Shared telecom infrastructure is the most practical and equitable way to build that layer without overburdening either the private sector or the public purse.
It also supports energy efficiency, reduces carbon emissions, and mitigates vandalism and battery theft—especially where site redundancy is currently high. Moreover, it enables the rise of smaller players, MVNOs, and community networks by lowering entry barriers and opening up access to essential infrastructure.
Conclusion
The call for fairer infrastructure deployment and inter-MNO collaboration must no longer be treated as a competitive or operational concern. It is a public policy issue with direct implications for South Africa’s future as a digitally inclusive society. Parliament and regulators must now reframe telecom infrastructure as Digital Public Infrastructure—shared, standardized, and deployed for public good.
The next wave of inclusion won’t be built one tower at a time—it will be built together, on shared ground.
