Free Wi-fi first step in Stellenbosch goal to be 'Silicon Valley of Africa'

Stellenbosch municipality plans to provide free Wi-fi to all its residents by June.

The town wants to position itself as the "Silicon Valley of Africa" and sees providing free Wi-fi as the first step.

Stellenbosch will be the first municipality in the country to offer residents free Wi-fi coverage. Stellenbosch mayor Conrad Sidego said the municipality's intention was to provide the town and surrounding suburbs with free internet connectivity by the middle of the year.

The initiative will be a joint operation between the town, Stellenbosch University and Mxit.

"The municipality has been discussing this for years, but the expensive cost of bandwidth has always been a factor holding us back," said Pieter Venter, the head of the municipality's finance portfolio.

"Last Monday, Mxit offered to provide us with their excess bandwidth as well as with infrastructural support and know-how."

Venter said the free network would be a first on the continent and would bring Stellenbosch one step closer to becoming the "Silicon Valley of Africa".

Mxit's CEO Alan KnottCraig jr has thrown his company's weight behind the scheme.

"We are psyched to help promote Stellenbosch as the true tech capital of Africa," KnottCraig told mybroadband.co.za, an IT news and current affairs website.

Michael-dean Appollis of the municipality's IT staff said a trial network would be opened tomorrow and would run for two to three weeks.

"If everything runs smoothly, the service will be broadened out to surrounding areas within the municipal boundaries," said Appollis.

Cape Argus

Posted at 08:28AM Feb 24, 2012 by Editor in Cities and Towns  |  Comments[3]