Subscribe

Project Isizwe brings E Cape free WiFi

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 17 Jun 2015
Project Isizwe COO Zahir Khan says the team hopes to have connected 5% of SA's population to free WiFi by 2020.
Project Isizwe COO Zahir Khan says the team hopes to have connected 5% of SA's population to free WiFi by 2020.

Project Isizwe - the free WiFi initiative that aims to deploy WiFi across SA - has partnered with global satellite operator SES to bring free WiFi to the Eastern Cape towns of Lusikisiki and Mount Frere.

The non-profit organisation (NPO), founded by former Mxit owner Alan Knott-Craig Jnr, says this latest WiFi initiative will empower the youth in the area by giving them free access to information and education.

The aim of Project Isizwe is to bring free WiFi to public spaces in low-income communities in South Africa and connect people for education, economic development and social inclusion.

The Eastern Cape launch follows Project Isizwe's pilot WiFi network in Tshwane, which was launched in November 2013 and has since grown to over 660 000 users at over 575 sites.

As part of the latest rural initiative, Project Isizwe has deployed free WiFi at the Ingwe TVET College's Mount Frere and Lusikisiki campuses, making it possible for Department of Education to deliver Internet access on campus and surrounding areas.

Zahir Khan, COO of Project Isizwe, says the Eastern Cape initiative coincides with celebrations around the youth in SA during June. "It is important to remember how important it is for the youth in SA and especially those in rural areas, to connect with the world for training and learning purposes."

Khan says, by "opening the doors to the world" through free Internet access, the NPO is giving them opportunities to become employable and contribute to the economic development of the province.

"Youth unemployment figures are very high in SA, specifically in the rural areas, due to lack of education and training. The best and quickest way to find information about education and training is the Internet. We are excited to be involved in another free WiFi project that will enable rural communities to connect."

Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, senior VP of SES' African commercial arm, says satellite is a key element to enabling WiFi services to the unconnected, because of its extensive coverage.

"Also, building fibre or wireless backhaul infrastructure to connect un-served areas like Lusikisiki is very capital intensive, which is why the satellite link is so competitive. SES has the global infrastructure in place to rapidly deploy these kinds of services."

Share