11 3.2 Strategies relating to the specific communications sectors Although the Communications Policy applies to all three communications sectors, the Government will carry out a number of actions specific to each sector. 3.2.1 Telecommunications Sector The telecommunications sector has grown significantly in Lesotho. However, penetration rates remain low. Only three percent of Basotho subscribe to a wireline telephone service, and there is no competition in the wireline market. Over twenty percent of Basotho subscribe to a wireless service, which has limited competition between two operators. There have been no other entrants into the wireless or wireline market. Finally, Internet access is still nascent, with only two percent of residents subscribing to Internet services, with additional access at Internet cafes, primarily in Maseru. At the same time, infrastructure deployment remains inadequate. Indeed, more than half of the geographic area of the country is not covered by any wireline or wireless network. International connectivity is limited because of Lesotho's reliance on South Africa for terrestrial access. The fundamental goals of the Communications Policy in the telecommunications sector are: • to facilitate the deployment of infrastructure to currently unserved portions of the country; • to provide additional means for non-subscribers to access telecommunications services; and • to foster advanced communications networks and increased competition in the sector. To achieve these goals, the Government will take a number of actions. First, the Government will seek to facilitate cooperative efforts to deploy infrastructure in currently unserved areas. Second, the Government will seek to promote telecommunications and Internet access points throughout the Country. Third, Government will remove technology-based and other regulatory restrictions that may impede new market entry, particularly of advanced networks and services. Access gaps The Government will take significant actions to close the "access gap" in the telecommunications sector. First, the Communications Act will establish a Universal Service Fund Committee. Second, LCA will use its licensing authority to promote service roll-out. Finally, Government will take other measures to promote universal access. • Universal service. The Government seeks to ensure that all Basotho have access to basic domestic and international telephony services and Internet access. This will be applied in a technology-neutral fashion, covering both fixed and mobile networks, and both traditional or