In addressing the issues of disparity and inconsistency of implementation throughout the sector, the Agency intends to engage in a process of developing a national strategy on Universal Access and Universal Service that will ensure appropriate identification of consumer needs in rural; underdeveloped; under-serviced and un-serviced areas, consider their levels of affordability, propose a model suitable enough to ensure that both basic and advanced ICT services are available, accessible and affordable to all the people of South Africa.

Overall Project Objectives

(a) to develop a National Universal Access and Service Strategy that to inform the Agency and its stakeholders on programmes, policies and the concomitant modus operandi to ensure that ICTs are available, accessible and affordable to all people within the country;

(b) to assist the Agency in identifying priority geographical areas those need urgent attention;

(c) to provide for a methodology and approach to attract private investment for the provision of both basic and advanced ICT services to rural, un-served and under-serviced areas within the Republic;

(d) to provide a foundation for the Agency to address the current gaps which prevail in respect of optimal levels of Universal Service and Universal Access in the Republic of South Africa ;

(e) for quantification of the access gaps by taking a closer look at access and service levels, current usage and uptake levels, ICT needs and affordability levels;

(f) for identification of public access models including the review of the Under-Serviced Arial Licenses (USALs) Model;

(g) for costing access gaps and review percentage contributions by operators towards Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF).

(h) to establish a monitoring and evaluation framework in order to assess the extent in which universal access and universal service has been achieved within the Republic.