BMIT has a distinguished (30 year) track record in telecoms policy and implementation in South Africa. Commencing in 1993, BMIT played a key role in the establishment of the National Telecommunications Forum (NTF) which brought together for the first time the key telecoms stakeholders pre-democracy (1994). BMIT has played a direct and active part in all the green-paper, white-paper processes and subsequent legislation since 1994. BMIT has also been directly instrumental in the development of government-led broadband infrastructure rollout since 2005 when BMIT launched the Digital Cities Forums which led directly to the formation of the first municipal/city and provincial broadband strategies and plans.

BMIT played a key research role in the challenging of the termination rates in South Africa and also conducted the industry research for the 2016 White Paper. Denis Smit (Consulting Director) BMIT's lead Policy Advisor has consulted and advised both the private sector as well as the public sector. Denis has been an advisor to Ministers, DGs and other senior government officials and was a member of the SA Connect Policy Advisor Team constituted by then Minister Yunus Carrim that drafted the SA Connect policy.

Broadband Policy and Implementation

BMIT has played a key role in crafting broadband policy, developing viable broadband project funding models and driving the agenda for Government-led broadband projects for the Cities of Johannesburg and Tshwane and the Provincial broadband strategies and network plans for the KZN, Mpumalanga ,Western Cape and Limpopo Provinces. BMIT also has extensive experience with public sector WiFi projects.

Monitoring and Evaluation and International Benchmarking

BMIT has extensive experience in the monitoring and evaluation and benchmarking of government policies, projects and initiatives. BMIT conducted the key termination rate international benchmarking research that directly led to the rates being challenged and reduced. BMIT also has experience in key industry and country indicator research and has completed indicator research for ICASA and the DTPS/DOC.

Policy, benchmarking and Implementation Development

From completing the industry research for the 2016 White Paper to the Cost-of-communications research into mobile termination rates, key involvement in all telecoms legislation over the last 30 years as well key advisory assignments for senior government officials, BMIT has constantly been at the forefront of telecoms and particularly broadband policy and implementation research and advisory. We have completed important policy and implementation projects for DOC/DTPS/DPSA/DPE/National Treasury as well the SOEs Broadband Infraco, Sentech and SITA.

Telecoms Policy

BMIT specialises in telecommunications policy development with a emphasis on broadband policy and funding as well as e-Education. BMIT provides advisory, research as well as stakeholder facilitation services.

Spectrum Management

Spectrum is the life blood of the wireless industry. BMIT has extensive Spectrum Management and Policy Development experience. Our international associate Dr Martyn Roetter is an internationally acknowledged spectrum management and policy expert. BMIT has participated in various projects entailing spectrum management. BMIT has advised both the private sector and the public sector on Wireless Open Access Networks (WOAN).

Government-led Networks

BMIT has played, and continues to play, a key role in the development of government-led broadband infrastructure deployment, from the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane to the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Western Cape. BMIT is particularly proud of our contribution to the Western Cape Provincial broadband strategy and network deployment programme. BMIT has also consulted widely on Wireless Open Access Networks (WOANs).

Public Sector Broadband Infrastructure Funding

BMIT’s exposure to so many government-led broadband network infrastructure projects has allowed a unique insight into the variety and benefits and disadvantages of different funding models.

Advisory Services

BMI-T can source and provide quality information and advisory services in support of:

• Policy, regulatory and market information in the IT, telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services
• National, provincial and local government ICT strategy research and advisory services
• Monitoring and evaluating ICT indicators and performance
• ICT economic and social impact studies
• Multi-country ICT benchmarking
• Position papers
• Citizen and other stakeholder awareness studies
• Citizen and other stakeholder satisfaction studies

Our experienced consultants and partners can provide advisory services for public sector institutions which include, inter alia:

• Strategic consulting and facilitation
• Strategic plans and frameworks
• Policy and regulation recommendations

On top of our advisory services, we can also offer the following assistance in these areas:

• Stakeholder consultation processes
• Strategic facilitation and focus groups
• Events and conferences

The service areas BMIT focuses on are:

• Governmental and provincial ICT strategies
• Impact of policy and regulations on the ICT industry
• Socio-economic impact of ICT
• National, provincial and local broadband
• Market gaps and universal service and access
• Monitoring and evaluating
• Citizen awareness and satisfaction