GEORGE NEWS - Just before the festive season, Liquid Telecom SA, part of the pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom, partnered with the Western Cape Government (WCG) to increase the number of free public Wi-Fi hotspots across the region from 178 to 1 600.

This means that 6,6 million residents will soon have greater access to public Wi-Fi located at government buildings across the province.

The project forms part of a R3-billion plan to provide broadband connectivity to provincial offices, libraries, schools and clinics.

Premier Helen Zille said their target of full broadband coverage has been reached. This includes over 1 200 schools, over 200 libraries and approximately 400 other public facilities.

"Broadband is a key enabler for our eLearning Game Changer, which aims to enhance teaching and learning using digital technology, focusing in particular on our poorer schools."

She said teachers have been trained to a point where 70% are improving at eTeaching, and R1,2-billion will be invested into eLearning over the next five years.

Reshaad Sha, CEO of Liquid Telecom SA, said the project is aligned with their vision to "Build Africa's Digital Future", providing high speed Internet across cities, towns and villages. "Our partnership with the WCG is central to this vision - giving every South African the right to be connected with free, reliable and fast Internet," he said.

The new expanded network will provide 3GB of data, five times faster than the current service, per device per month. Users with Wi-Fi enabled devices (mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers) will be able to connect to the Wi-Fi hotspots without any logins or passwords.

The hotspots will be installed over the next three years, and the project will run for five years in total.

Public access Wi-Fi networks enable citizens who cannot afford broadband, to connect not only individually, but also for employment and business opportunities.

This will be a great help to communities who rely heavily on mobile phones to stay in touch and could otherwise not afford broadband, especially in the rural areas.

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