Rapid growth in free Wi-Fi usage

The metro has recorded a monthly average growth of 21 965 in the number of users connecting at 338 sites throughout Ekurhuleni since the launch of the free Wi-Fi service, last year.

“There is now a total of 748 596 Wi-Fi users from townships, suburbs, farms and informal settlements who are using free Wi-Fi to access a world of opportunities which are just a click away,” said the metro’s spokesman, Themba Gadebe.

“Approximately R2-billion has been invested towards the Digital City Programme which has a number of projects including connectivity infrastructure, roll-out of fibre, computing and applications.”

The roll-out will ensure that the wireless grid is expanded to previously disadvantaged areas and the connection is stable, maintained and monitored on a daily basis.

“So far, there are over 1 507 hot spots including 43 libraries and 317 municipal offices that have been activated with free Wi-Fi,” said Gadebe.

“Residents visiting municipal buildings such as customer care areas, clinics, libraries and metro police department offices enjoy the daily 250 megabytes of free Wi-Fi per registered device, within a 200m radius of hot spots.

“The roll-out of free Wi-Fi will be completed in 2017.

“The metro will soon launch a portal to provide users with important information about the metro, including jobs and educational opportunities.”

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