The City of Cape Town and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) today signed an agreement for a grant from the agency to fund a research study of the prospective benefits of making Wi-Fi internet available in Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.
The US$315 000 grant will be used to investigate the technical, social and economic impact assessments associated with the provision of wireless internet access to the two areas following the City’s successful application to the agency to fund this study.
The availability of this grant will boost the City’s ongoing efforts to build a broadband optic fibre network that can unlock the enormous economic, social and other benefits associated with access to such infrastructure.
The City has already allocated R250 million to the rollout of broadband infrastructure. Additional capacity of this network will empower local residents and businesses to reap the benefits of broadband connectivity and help consolidate our competitive advantage over other cities, both locally and internationally.
To date, the City has ensured that 82 of its municipal buildings have broadband connectivity. Early indications show that the increased band has led to significant cost savings and other efficiencies as well as improved levels of service delivery.
The research study will complement the City and Provincial Government’s Telecommunications Strategy to increase access to wireless internet services to more households, particularly in areas currently experiencing low internet usage such as Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.
The Executive Mayor, Alderman Patricia de Lille, who signed the agreement with the UDTDA representatives said: “We are grateful to the USTDA for their generous financial contribution for this study. We hope that the outcome of the study will unpack all the details that are necessary to fully prepare the City for the eventual roll out of broadband infrastructure to Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.”
