Certification Barrier Blocks Startup Market Access

Section 58(3) mandates that public institutions procure ICT services only from Authority-certified providers, creating a fundamental market access barrier for startups and emerging innovators. While 55 promises support for "start-ups" and "indigenous ICT innovation," this provision effectively locks them out of government procurement—often the most accessible market for local tech companies. The tiered certification system (reflecting "security, interoperability, reliability, and user accessibility") may be prohibitively expensive for small firms, and the provision contains no exemptions for regulatory sandbox participants or innovation pilots, directly contradicting the bill's stated innovation objectives.