USAASA is established in terms of Electronic Communications Act with a mandate to promote universal access and universal service to ICTs
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 under-serviced areas, and also give subsidies to needy persons towards the cost of ICT provision, access and usage.
USAASA manages the Universal Service and Access Fund by properly identifying Fund beneficiaries, identifying beneficiary needs, develop and implement community projects that will positively benefit identified beneficiaries, and change the lives of the people for the better. The Fund beneficiaries range from under-serviced areas as defined and published by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), identified communities in which the Agency has deployed public access centres, poor households benefiting from the Set Top Box Subsidy Scheme and persons with disabilities.
• To facilitate the rollout of adequate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure to enable universal access to under-serviced areas in South Africa.
• To facilitate ICT service to under-serviced areas and thereby contributing to the reduction of poverty and unemployment in South Africa.
• To promote and pursue the goal of Universal Access and Services and contribute to the sharing and preservation of information in order to build South Africa’s sustainable knowledge society.
