The City of Cape Town is conducting a feasibility study to investigate whether to make WiFi available in Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain.
The outcome of the study, which is funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), is expected to be released in August.
Demetri Qually, mayoral committee member for corporate service at the City of Cape Town, says the two townships are gap areas in the province's Internet and broadband network. In an effort to establish equitable access for all communities, to the opportunities that come from being connected to modern information systems, the city now hopes to narrow this digital divide.
"It has already been well-documented that access to the Internet presents invaluable opportunities to citizens, and communities that are not able to access the Internet are indeed at a disadvantage," says Qually.
Qually says little detail surrounding the prospective WiFi network is known at the moment, as all aspects will depend on the results of the study.
He confirmed the research is being funded by a USTDA grant, but says it not yet known who will provide the funding for the WiFi network, or what the costs of the rollout will be. Recent media reports have suggested funding will come from a consortium of partners, including government and private sector ICT companies.
According to reports, the WiFi access will most likely not be free but there is a possibility that free access will be available for a limited period of time, only over the weekends, or a limited amount of data will be provided for free.
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