I have been advised by the department as follows: -
(1) The department engages with these companies on an ad hoc basis to discuss among other issues, the following:
a) Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprise (SMME) development;
b) Skills development; and,
c) Technology trends.
There has been on-going engagement with Ericsson regarding innovation. Furthermore, the department has engaged Huawei on skills development and participated at its workshop.
(2) The SA Government has no preference of supplier, hence the methodology by mobile operators to utilise a multi-vendor approach in their roll-out.
MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES