CHAIRMAN'S PROFILE

Dr Andile Ngcaba

Dr Andile Ngcaba holds a Master of Commerce degree, majoring in Information Systems, a qualification from the University of Witwatersrand in SA. The University of Fort Hare in the U.S. honoured him with an honorary Doctorate in Commerce. He has also obtained a diploma in Executive Management Programme jointly offered by Stanford and Singapore University.

Andile has served on the Council of the University of South Africa (UNISA) and was an advisor to the Digital Inclusion Programme at Harvard University Law School. He is the founder of the Institute for Software and Satellite Applications (ISSA) and the Centre for Development of Information and Telecommunications Policy (CDITP). The CDITP was instrumental in the establishment of the National Telecommunications Forum in SA. A body that brought together all ICT stakeholders.

From a telecommunications perspectives he drove the process of drafting and writing of the White and Green Paper which culminated in the promulgation of the Telecommunication Act of 1996 and the establishment of an independent
regulator SATRA. He also championed the process of promulgation of the Sentech Act the legislation that positioned Sentech as a common carrier for broadcasting signal distribution. His leadership role also contributed in the Initial Public Offering resulting in the privatization of Telkom and initiated the process of licensing of the Second National Operator the competitor to Telkom. He also influenced and shaped negotiations that led to deployments of various underground sea cables like SAFE including the movement from SAT2 to SAT3.

From a broadcasting perspective Andile was instrumental in driving the process of promulgation of the Broadcasting Act, establishing the SABC Limited to complete the restructuring of the public broadcaster. He also oversaw the process of integrating Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and SATRA as a converged regulatory institution giving rise to the
birth of ICASA. His contribution to the ICT sector includes the Electronics Communications Act of 2006 which is set to revolutionise the communications industry by lowering entry barriers, fostering competition and providing a platform for the provision of converged services including broadcasting, telecommunications and multimedia using a single device.
Andile has written and published many papers, received various international awards, participated globally on ICT decision making fora and has influenced the formation of various African fora and organisations responsible for shaping
of the ICT sector.