TshWi-Fi revival plan targets ageing infrastructure and vandalism
The metro is exploring a new public Wi-Fi model after equipment deployed more than a decade ago became outdated and vulnerable to vandalism, resulting in there being no free public Wi-Fi zones available.
The Tshwane Metro is looking at a new approach to restoring public internet access after the TshWi-Fi network became largely non-operational.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the public Wi-Fi service is currently not operating as intended, with no operational Free Internet Zones across the city.
Mashigo said much of the existing infrastructure was deployed between 2013 and 2015 and was now more than 10 years old, exceeding its expected operational lifespan.
“The previous service contract expired and could not be re-advertised due to funding constraints,” he said.
An assessment of the existing infrastructure found that much of the equipment was outdated and several high sites were vulnerable to vandalism due to inadequate security.
Mashigo said some infrastructure had also been damaged through vandalism, while private security previously deployed at identified high-risk sites had also come under attack.
He stated that the metro is now considering migrating connectivity infrastructure from high sites to its corporate network.
“This is intended to reduce reliance on vulnerable standalone infrastructure while improving the stability and reliability of connectivity services,” he added.
The move forms part of the metro’s plans to develop what it describes as a more sustainable approach to public Wi-Fi.
According to Mashigo, the metro plans to use a portion of its corporate network to provide public Wi-Fi services.
“The shared-infrastructure approach is intended to provide a more sustainable and reliable platform while reducing the need and associated costs of maintaining separate network infrastructure,” he said.
He said the metro is currently not considering partnerships with private telecommunications companies or other technology providers.
Should such partnerships be considered in future, Mashigo said they would have to be pursued through an open, fair, and competitive procurement process.
“The metro had previously deployed public Wi-Fi to the majority of schools and intended to prioritise educational institutions, libraries, public facilities, and customer care centres in future rollout plans,” he added.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo Image: File
The development comes as Alderman Dana Wannenburg, DA Chief Whip in Tshwane, criticised what he described as political blame over the collapse of TshWi-Fi.
Wannenburg said the focus should instead be on rebuilding the service, arguing that residents needed reliable and affordable internet access.
“The DA inherited procurement, governance, and sustainability problems when it took control of Tshwane in 2016 and it is therefore dishonest to say the party had ‘killed’ TshWi-Fi,” he said.
Dana Wannenburg.
The metro said funding for TshWi-Fi was anticipated in the next financial year.
Subject to funding availability, it intends to migrate additional sites to the corporate network and review and modernise the public Wi-Fi infrastructure.
“Specific measurable targets will be determined according to the funding ultimately made available and the approved implementation programme,” added Mashigo.
