Thesis (M.A. (Communication studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The rates of Internet uses are still devastatingly low especially in developing countries
and South Africa is no exception. However, South Africa has had a state policy
commitment to attain Internet access for those who have been unconnected in the post Apartheid era (Electronic Communication Act, No 36 of 2005). The problem is that the policy application has been one-sided, only focusing on providing public fixed Internet
access through community libraries, Thusong service centres, hospitals and public
schools. While this effort is credible, it does little to address the upsurge of mobile
Internet access that is increasingly characterising the digital age. The age of digital
mobility represents a shift from fixed public Internet access to individualised mobile
Internet access through mobile phones. However, the high prices of mobile Internet
data make Internet access exclusionary in South Africa, making the needy persons to
remain outside of the digital revolution. This study explored issues regarding the high
cost of Internet data in South Africa and suggests ways on how universal service and
access policy can be formulated to focus on individualised mobile Internet connection.
Using a mixed method approach, a convenience sampling technique was used to recruit
200 University of Limpopo students to participate in a survey, and a purposive sampling
technique was used for selecting one official from the Independent Communication
Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and another official from the Universal Service and
Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) to participate in the standardised semi structured interview. The results indicate that unless the universal service and access policy focuses on addressing the individualised mobile Internet access for needy
persons, tapping the benefits that the Internet provides will remain out of reach for many
South African youths.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/3404 |
| Date | January 2019 |
| Creators | Masimbe, Chinoza |
| Contributors | Oyedemi, T. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xiii, 219 leaves |
| Relation |
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