Metro to continues innovating free Wi-Fi services
The metro will continue to innovate its free Wi-Fi services in order to improve service delivery.
Andrew Ngozo
The recent awards won by the Tshwane metro and Project Isizwe for the Tshwane free Wi-Fi service have placed the metro in a more favourable position to offer more affordable and accessible internet as the ultimate empowerment tool for economic development, education and social inclusion, according to mayoral spokesperson Blessing Manale.
He said the Tshwane Free Wi-Fi project won in the categories of Best App for Africa (for the Tshwane Wi-Fi voice mobile App) and Best connectivity solution for Africa (for the Tshwane free Wi-Fi project) in the Africa technology awards 2015.
“This recognition is significant because we got these accolades when the project was only two years old. For a young project it has grown phenomenally from November 2013, beginning with a capacity of 25 000 users spread across five locations in Soshanguve, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville. Today we have surpassed the one-million unique users mark with more than 700 free Wi-Fi sites,” he said.
Manale said with over 750 000 unique devices having logged on and activating more than 24 million unique sessions Tshwane Free Wi-Fi was fast becoming the biggest public free Wi-Fi network in Africa.
Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said: “The provision of free access to the internet promotes social inclusion, stimulates inclusive growth, and supports learning through the accessibility of digital education material. For example citizens are now able to tele-commute and study after hours near their places of residence, as opposed to having to find transport to traditional places of study. The economic benefits of free Wi-Fi are the result of improved market efficiencies.”
Ramokgopa said the awards placed the city and project Isizwe as a brand to be reckoned with and as an industry champion and pace-setter, forging the way ahead in this competitive landscape and supporting the most needy with a public service and goods.
“We will continue to innovate and ensure that we provide a service that is development-orientated for the city and its residents.”
“The illustrious AfricaCom Awards are widely recognised as the information and telecommunications industry’s most prestigious awards, overseen by a renowned a panel of expert judges and attracting the most innovative entrants in the field. It is the highlight of the calendar year and any project or company on its winners list remains a must-watch and a must-invest project” said Ramokgopa.
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