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Tshwane to double its free Wi-Fi zones

7 July 2016

There are 752 zones across Tshwane where residents can access the city's award winning free internet service. The initiative, which recently won a World Wi- Fi Day Award for Most Innovative City or Government Programme to bridge the Digital Divide, will be increased by a further 700 city sites.

World Wi-Fi Day is celebrated on 20 June and it supports projects and initiatives that brings broadband connectivity to the under-privileged in both developed and developing countries, reads its website.

Kgosientso Ramokgopa, the city mayor, was proud and excited about the award. He said that the programme will continue "to be a shining example of what it means to employ the use of technology to lead the way towards a South Africa that is democratic, inclusive, united and prosperous – ours will be the global Cyber Capital."

Tshwane free Wi-Fi known as Tshwi-Fi is a collaborative initiative between the city and non-profit Project Isizwe. The non-profit was also shortlisted for its project in rural Limpopo which was recognised in the Best Wi-Fi Deployment to Connect the Unconnected in Rural Environment category. While it lost out to Liquid Telecom for their Free Wi-­Fi project in Nakuru County, Kenya, it has still brought thousands of rural households online.

The Tshwi-Fi programme

The Tshwi-Fi's site and social media accounts give users information on what it offers. Here is an example of what the public can expect:

You can also stream movies for free. #CapitalCity #FreeWifi pic.twitter.com/pYU6VXF1cX

— #FreeTshWi-fi (@Freetshwifi) July 1, 2016

Users can use the internet to download movies, but Tshwi-Fi also offers educational apps for children, information for parents or guardians on how to read and write for your child and access to books or research material.

Launched in 2013, Tshwi-Fi has spread across public spaces predominantly in the low income communities like Soshanguve, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville. At 20:47 on the evening of 28 October 2015 the millionth new user logged on to the system. Tshwi-Fi is a part of the metro's eKaelo strategy to build a city administration that is more responsive to its residents' needs. At the end of 2015 there were 1 800 active government sponsored hot spots around the country. The majority of these were, according to research firm BMI-T, were a part of Tshwane's programme.

Each user receives a daily cap of 500MB. Research conducted by Project Isizwe found that only 7% of users reach 250MB cap per day. Among those users is Unisa student Daniel Nyaude, who uses the free access to research and complete his degree. Tshwi-Fi has changed his life and he encourages the city to grow the service.

"Free Wi-Fi is a platform where people will access opportunities," he said. "I urge the government to spread to more poor communities because they need this for their up-liftment. Cash is hard to come by these days and the issue of free Wi-Fi has ensured am in touch with what is happening around me and the world."

SouthAfrica.info reporter