Cell C has taken its first step in helping achieve the Department of Communications' goal of 100% broadband penetration by 2020.
The operator says Kimberley will be the first city in the Northern Cape to benefit from its broadband services, with the unveiling of the company's network in the city today.
“According to recent research, over 700 schools in the Northern Cape don't have access to affordable Internet, many of them in Kimberley itself.”
Cell C says, as part of its rollout in Kimberley, it will provide broadband connectivity to one of the local schools, Tshireleco Secondary School.
The school will receive five routers and five speed sticks with 60GB SIM cards.
Support programme
While Kimberley is the focus of the rollout, some of the surrounding towns will also have access to the coverage, says Cell C.
"We have committed not only to connect educational and healthcare institutions, but to also have a follow-through support programme aimed at developing SMMEs in the area, which will form part of our job creation initiative," says Mothibi Ramusi, Cell C's executive head of regulatory affairs.
Cell C utilises both the 900MHz and 2 100MHz frequency bands. HSPA+ 900 delivers wider coverage, higher speeds at the cell edge and deeper indoor coverage, and HSPA+ 2100 will increase capacity where needed.
"This is one step towards the Department of Communications' plan to ensure 100% of South Africans have access to the Internet by 2020," says Ramusi.
Communications minister Roy Padayachie this week signed a compact with ICT industry players to increase the sector's competitiveness. The compact commits to 100% broadband penetration and an additional one million jobs in the sector by 2020.
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