Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa

Overview

The Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) is established in terms of Section 80 of the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005 (the ECA) as a statutory body with a sole mandate of promoting the goal of universal access and universal service to Electronic Communications Network Services (ECNS), Electronic Communications Services (ECS) and Broadcasting Services (BS).

The Agency is an administrative arm of the Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF), which is established through Section 87 (1). The strategic mandate of the Fund is to provide grants for the construction and extension of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure in underserviced areas, and also to give subsidies to needy persons towards the cost of ICT.