Lesotho joins the world in celebrating the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2010 (WTISD): 17th May 2010 with giant strides in communications development – “Better city, better life with ICTs”
On the 17th May 2010, the world commemorated the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The 17th May marks the anniversary of the signature of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865 and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In 1973, this day was recognized as the World Telecommunication Day. Following the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2005 and the 2006 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, 17 May was designated as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The day is commemorated world-wide to raise awareness on the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in creating the opportunities for a better life through long-term, sustainable development, not least among the most vulnerable sections of society. ICTs have increasingly dictated lifestyles and behaviour patterns and contributed to the growth of trade and commerce, education, improved health services, governance and revolutionized entertainment through the development of rapid communications, both mobile and fixed.
About ten years ago in June 2000, the Parliament of Lesotho passed the Lesotho Communications Act No. 5 of 2000 which established the Lesotho Communications Authority with a mandate to regulate the communications sector in Lesotho. The Act gave the Authority the mandate which entails: issuing licences to operators; promoting fair competition; approving tariffs; managing the radio frequency spectrum; empowering and protecting consumers; type approving terminal equipment and other related matters. Since the establishment of the Authority, the communications sector in Lesotho has grown in leaps and bounds in terms of coverage, the number of services being offered and the number of people having access to communication services.
Since the establishment of the Authority and the adoption of market liberalisation strategy, the number of subscribers per every 100 people in the population, commonly referred to as tele-density has grown from 1% in 2000 to close to 45% as at March 2010. The airwaves have been opened-up and the number of broadcasters has grown from five to fourteen (14) comprising of two television stations (one public and one private) and twelve (12) radio stations (one public, one commercial, one community and nine private). The broadcasts of the Lesotho National Broadcasting Services which are Radio Lesotho, Ultimate FM and Lesotho Television are now available on Multichoice Digital Satellite Network throughout the country since 2009. Internet services both fixed and mobile are also growing. Internet Services Providers (ISP’s) which were three in 2000 have grown to six in 2010 and currently there are over 24 Internet cafes throughout the country.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which met in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005, called upon countries to consider establishing national mechanisms to achieve universal access in both underserved rural and urban areas in order to bridge the digital divide. In order to achieve this objective, the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) adopted a twin strategy of first, promoting private sector investment in a liberalised communications market and secondly, establishing a Universal Access Fund. The Fund was launched by the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Hon. Mothetjoa Metsing, in May 2009, following the promulgation of the Lesotho Communications Authority (Universal Access Fund) Rules 2009 through Gazette No. 16 of 13th March 2009. Currently, the Fund operates in a contributory partnership of the LCA and the major network operators, Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL), and Vodacom Lesotho (VCL). Other eligible contributors into the Fund are the Government of Lesotho, development partners and other licensees of the Authority.
In its first year of operation, the focus of the Fund has been on the rollout of network coverage. The first programme of activity to that effect saw the Fund Committee selecting three areas to which the Fund provided subsidy incentives for network rollout. These were Tebellong in the Qacha’s Nek district, ‘Malefiloane in the Mokhotlong district and the Makhaleng Valley in Maseru. The second round of activity saw Hloahloeng in the Mohale’s Hoek district get the nod from the Committee. In total, the Universal Access Fund has supported four network rollout projects between June 2009 and March 2010. The four projects are going to provide network coverage to at least 73 villages. Over 12,000 people in around 3,000 households stand to benefit from these projects.
Going forward, once considerable ground has been covered in the rollout of network coverage in the rural areas, attention will turn towards universal access to other communication services such as digital broadcasting and the Internet.
As communication services continue to grow, more and more people find employment opportunities within the sector and services offered continue to ease life for the people of Lesotho in other economic sectors. It is for this reason that the Authority, operating within the legislated regulatory framework, will continue in its efforts to ensure that communication services are within reach of every person living in Lesotho. The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day offers an opportune platform to reflect on ways and means of bridging the digital divide.
