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Roll-out of subsidised wi-fi must|be fast tracked - ANC, ACDP [Cape Times (South Africa)]
[September 01, 2014]

Roll-out of subsidised wi-fi must|be fast tracked - ANC, ACDP [Cape Times (South Africa)]


(Cape Times (South Africa) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) THE city says it is finalising a plan to roll out wi-fi across the metro and is seeking partnerships with private businesses to find ways to provide subsidised internet services.

Following a six-month wi-fi trial project in Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, the city is finalising a roll-out plan for the rest of the metro.

Mayoral committee member for corporate services Xanthea Limberg said municipal sites across the metro would be connected to the city's network and from these sites "public wi-fi internet services will be made available".

"The city is currently finalising the roll-out plan for the current financial year and will seek partnerships with the private sector to ensure that an affordable internet service, which may include a free portion, is provided," she said.



"We will in future concentrate our public wi-fi strategy to create internet zones around municipal facilities such as municipal offices, clinics, libraries and other sites where we have good telecommunication infrastructure as a result of our broadband fibre optic investment programme.," she said.

Experimental wi-fi zones were established at Harare Stocks & Stocks Site C, Khayelitsha and Lentegeur (Mitchells Plain).


The city had also done a feasibility study with the US Trade and Development Agency to assess the viability and sustainability of extending affordable internet services to the under-connected areas of Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.

The first phase of the city's broadband project went live in June 2012. More than 80 municipal buildings were connected via broadband fibre and 25 clinics were able to use either fibre-optic or wireless connections.

The ANC caucus leader in the city council, Tony Ehrenreich, said the wi-fi provision should be fast tracked.

"Access to the internet provides access to opportunities." ACDP caucus leader Grant Haskin said: "We need the wi-fi provision fast tracked. It should mainly benefit the poor and areas where internet services are almost non-existent." [email protected] Cape Times (c) 2014 Independent Newspapers (Pty) Limited. All rights strictly reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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