After a brief introduction by Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Corporate Services, Councillor (Cllr) Cilliers Brink, Tshwane’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Stevens Mokgalapa expounded on the city’s commitment to bringing greater connectivity to the sector. He stated that the TshWi-Fi network is being upgraded and extended, with a particular focus on empowering the community’s youth and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) through improved connectivity.
“Currently, the city has increased the number of Wi-Fi hotspots to 1,051, with an additional five already installed in Olievenhoutbosch alone, which takes the total within this ward up to 15. Over the next three years, we will roll out another 1,000 sites in order to ensure coverage for all within the city.
“This access to connectivity is critical for the Tshwane community to prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, providing our next generation with access to information, a critical factor in upliftment within the city.”
It is for this reason also that the city will now be offering citizens access to more data, doubling the free access data allocation from 500MB to 1GB per device per day.
In addition, the improved TshWi-Fi offering incorporates the services of 35 identified local, Tshwane-based suppliers specialising in cabling and field network services for support and maintenance, and implementation of the Wi-Fi network, as well as a youth development programme. This will include mentorship of 30 youth ambassadors over the first year of the project, who are receiving practical, on-ground experience and training.
“We would like to see these programmes grow to include additional supporting SMMEs and youth ambassadors over the next three years,” added Mokgalapa.
He then implored Tshwane community members to help stem the ongoing issue of equipment vandalism and theft, saying that the TshWi-Fi infrastructure belongs to the community itself, whose members must be sensitised to the importance of its care and maintenance.
As a public Wi-Fi provider, Ulwembu is passionate about influencing the growth and progression of South Africa, says managing director, Sibusiso Kunene.
“In our capacity as the public Wi-Fi service provider to the City of Tshwane, we are committed to helping businesses and communities move forward by supplying, provisioning, implementing and maintaining the right solutions effectively and affordably so that they can influence, change and improve the lives of the citizens of our country.”
