Realising that connectivity is the future, Enterprise iLembe is in the final stages of rolling out a broadband connectivity plan in the region.

The R400 billion project, now in the design phase, could see public service facilities like hospitals, municipalities, clinics and data service stations connecting locals to muchneeded internet services.

While the project has been in the pipeline for a few years, the agency is waiting for treasury to approve funding.

Speaking of the master plan at Hotel eBandla in Ballito last week, the agency invited telecommunications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams to lead a discussion on how connectivity could address the district’s main challenges: unemployment, poverty and skills shortages.

“This is the fourth industrial revolution and we as South Africans often speak about the digital age as though we are not a part of it.

“How do we grow the economy or utilise services if we cannot connect?

“A local bead-maker or farmer should be able to access the internet to sell their products.

“We should be developing more agricultural apps, more traffic monitoring apps and using technology to enhance what we need.

“Just as we need water and electricity, municipalities and investors need to take into account that our people need data.”

Ndabeni-Abrahams said that while local government ought to include connectivity to their integrated development plan, they should also make sure that people were equipped with the skills needed to grow in the connectivity and digital fields.

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This, she said, could help curb the high cost of data.

“In a meeting with cellular operators this week, we found that the cost of data was higher for people in rural areas because of poor connection services.

“We also found that the fact that most devices are manufactured in China and Korea, then sent to South Africa, contributes to the high costs.

“Not only do we need to start supporting and encouraging local technological advancements but we also need to encourage children to study in digital fields and contribute to community upliftment.

“Many jobs are fast becoming redundant and there are millions of unemployed, qualified people because the skills they have are not what the market needs in this day and age.”

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