The roll-out of broadband in South Africa is one of nine focus areas that have been prioritised to kickstart the nation’s struggling economy.

During his yearly State of the Nation Address, at Parliament, on Thursday evening, President Jacob Zuma stated that this year would mark the first phase of nationwide broadband roll-out.

Telecommunications group Telkom had been designated as the “lead agency” to assist in the deployment, with the first phase to connect offices in eight district municipalities.

These were Dr Kenneth Kaunda, in the North West province; Gert Sibande, in Mpumalanga; O.R. Tambo, in the Eastern Cape; Pixley ka Seme, in the Northern Cape; Thabo Mofutsanyane, in the Free State; Umgungundlovu and Umzinyathi, in KwaZulu-Natal; and Vhembe, in Limpopo.

No reference, however, was made to South Africa’s delayed digital migration project, which would aid broadband development.

Zuma meanwhile said that, to give the “major push” the economy needed and “ignite growth and create jobs”, a nine-point plan would be implemented.

Focus would narrow to the resolution of the country’s energy challenge; the revitalisation of the agriculture and the agroprocessing value chain; advancing beneficiation or adding value to South Africa’s mineral wealth; and more effective implementation of a higher impact Industrial Policy Action Plan.

He also outlined action plans to encourage private sector investment; moderate workplace conflict; unlock the potential of small, medium-sized and microenterprises, cooperatives, township and rural enterprises; State reform and boosting the role of State-owned companies, as well as information and communication technology or broadband infrastructure and water, sanitation and transport infrastructure; and growing the ocean economy and other selected sectors through Operation Phakisa.