The International Institute of Communications (IIC) today announced the launch of the IIC South Africa Chapter designed to provide a forum for industry players, academics and senior government policy makers to engage and debate trends in the telecommunications, broadcasting and new media sectors.
South Africa sits at the doorstep of the revolution driven by technological advance. Recent strides in broadband connectivity (the landing of undersea cables in Africa being the latest example) open the possibility of connecting the world in hitherto unforeseen ways, holding out the prospect of widespread economic, social and cultural benefits. Creating a digital society, benefiting the mass of the population, will require a range of new content services and business models in the telecommunications and media sectors. It will involve the full potential of mobile services and applications, social media and the mobile internet, and engaging the billions who use pre-paid cell phones and free-to-air radio and television or who are still unreached by the internet. As technologies, markets and the broadband ecosystem evolve, the relevant public institutions and regulatory bodies will need recasting to address new challenges, particularly in the areas of competition policy, encouraging innovation, privacy and consumer protection.
With this in mind, the IIC South Africa Chapter aims to further the dialogue between industry leaders and policy-makers in the region, focusing on all aspects of the converging worlds of telecom, broadcast and electronic media. The Chapter will provide an important local focus and contact point for IIC members and supporters in South Africa. And will allow for debate and discussions about issues that affect us.
Membership of the chapter will comprise a mix of corporations, together with academics, practitioners and senior regulatory and policy-making officials in key markets.
IIC's secretariat is situated in London and has National Chapters in many parts of the world. This is the first in the region. The goal of the IIC is to provide a global framework for dialogue and promote access to communications for all people of the world.
Commenting on the launch of the Chapter, Fabio Colasanti, the Belgium-based President of the IIC, said "Business strategies and public polices are being shaped by technological developments and social changes in communications across the world. Nowhere is the potential for change and development more clearly seen than in South Africa. We are excited by the launch of the Chapter in South Africa and consider that it will serve as an important forum for industry leaders and policy makers in the region."
Andile Ngcaba, Dimension Data, will serve as Honorary Chairman for the inaugural year of the Chapter. The following individuals will serve on the Steering Committee; Dr Andrew Barendse, Professor Guy Berger, Dr Alison Gillwald, Mandla Langa, Michael Markovitz and Ms Mandla Msimang.
The launch of the Chapter coincides with IIC's 2011 International Regulator Forum and Annual Conference being held in Johannesburg, October 1st - 4th.
For further information contact Ms Andrea Millwood-Hargrave This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Dr Andrew Barendse This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Notes to Editors
The International Institute of Communications is a leading independent, not-for-profit, international membership organisation focused primarily on global telecommunications, media and digital policy and regulation, and their impact on business and on society. Its activities cover global themes: the key trends and developments relevant to the telecommunications, content, media and internet industries. Individually these span many areas, from broadband telecommunications policies and deployments to content regulation, media and telecommunications market structures, competition policy issues, intellectual property regimes, privacy, and consumer protection.