Media alert and statement by the leader of Government Business Nomusa Dube-Ncube on the unveiling of free Wi-Fi Hotspots and switching on of JL Dube Broadband Highsite.
The 9th July 2020 will mark the beginning of the digital revolution as inspired by the first President of a democratic South Africa Nelson Mandela who once remarked: "It always seems impossible until it is done."
For the first time, communities in Pietermaritzburg who have always battled to access internet will have access to free Wi-Fi.
At 10h00 this Thursday, the Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala, Minister of Communications and Digital Technology Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams will switch on a JL Dube Broadband Highsite in Vezokuhle Primary School, Edendale under Umsunduzi Municipality.
The long term vision is to turn KZN into a Smart Province through the digital infrastructure. The model takes advantage of SA Connect, the BBI long haul fibre backbone as well as the Dube iConnect ISP services and infrastructure.
The Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) together with its entities - Dube Trade Port and Moses Kotane Institute of Technology - have joined forces with Broadband Infraco and Mzansi ComNet to rollout out a cost effective model of broadband infrastructure.
We are using the existing contract with SA Connect and BBI ensure that we provide the backbone for broadband access, particularly in underserviced areas of our province.
This work has been made easy by our Dube Trade I-connect. This is our province’s cloud offering. It provides a world-class and telecommunication platform which incorporates an advanced, high-speed metro enternet network, voice and broadband and digital links.
South Africa has some of the highest mobile voice and data costs in the world. Surveys have shown that the majority of people spend up to 22% of their income on telecommunications. This is money that could be spent on food, education, transport and other needs.
As we rollout broadband throughout the province - township and rural based youth and women owned co-operatives and SMMEs will be internet service providers. Our plans involves teaching them how to install and maintain telecommunications infrastructure.
Others will be empowered to sell affordable voice and data services. These will be much cheaper than what is offered by the big mobile operators.
Media is invited to attend the launch scheduled as follows:-
Date: 9 July 2020
Time: 09h30
Venue: Vezukuhle Primary School – Edendale (Umsunduzi Municipality)
RSVP:
Nathi Olifant
Cell: 060 970 5113
Bongani Mthethwa
Cell: 083 253 0748
The event will also be Streamed Live.
