Vodacom today launched 13 new base stations in the Ndwedwe community, a rural area north of Durban, thereby effectively bringing mobile communication for the first time to over 167 404 people.
Shameel Joosub, Managing Director of Vodacom South Africa, explains Vodacom`s motivation in connecting this and other communities: "Cellphones play a significant part in promoting bottom-up socio-economic development, even among the poorest communities.
"Cellphones do not require the same levels of education and literacy as other new technologies such as computers or the Internet. This makes them more accessible. Accessibility is further increased by the lower up-front expenditure required and flexible pricing plans," he says.
Vodacom is the first cellular operator to launch base stations in this area which is 1 153sq km in extent and community members will surely reap the benefits, including the opportunity to sell airtime. All over South Africa selling airtime has produced a thriving industry, with everyone wanting a share of the booming sales and many bars, shops and even hair salons increasing their profit potential by doubling as cellphone voucher outlets.
"Mobile communication empowers people for as little as R5.99, the cost of a starter pack," Joosub says. Entrepreneurs, for instance a painter who advertises his services on a board on the side of the road, can advertise their business with an easily accessible contact number, greatly enhancing their business prospects.
Joosub sheds light on why cellphones are used and owned differently in rural communities from the developed market: "The value of cellphones to the individual is greater because other ways of communication, such as postal systems, roads and fixed-line phones are often poor and therefore cellphones provide a point of contact and enable users to become economically active," he says.
Examples of community members who have benefited from Vodacom base stations in their area include correspondence university students in rural areas who can access information on a cellphone instead of having to travel to the nearest university office. Cellphones help people to apply for jobs or training opportunities and give them better access to business information and retail shops can use cellphones to place orders instead of having to travel miles to the nearest phone and often waiting for hours to use it.
The launch of the base stations was a fun-filled day of celebration and activities for the whole community, and emphasised Vodacom`s commitment to consult and communicate with communities to find a balance between the requirements of the network and the concerns of the community.
"Vodacom continually invests in network development to improve coverage for its customers," concludes Joosub. "Besides providing a point of contact and enabling users to participate in the economic system, the Ndwedwe community can now also have more contact and better relationships with their family and friends as a result of mobile phones."
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