Wi-Fi at a taxi rank with no electricity in South Africa’s second-oldest town
A regional Internet service provider based in Stellenbosch, LiBConnect Africa, has deployed solar-powered Wi-Fi Internet access in a taxi rank where no regular grid connection is available.
Stellenbosch was founded in 1679 by then-Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, and is South Africa’s second-oldest town.
Craig Young, AFR-IX Telecom’s manager for the Southern African region, said LiBConnect’s hotspot at the taxi rank went live on Friday and called it “something quietly powerful”.
“LiBConnect rolled out reliable, solar-powered Internet access right where people move, wait, work, and hustle every day,” Young wrote on LinkedIn.
“Taxi ranks aren’t just transport hubs — they’re information hubs, economic lifelines, and meeting points for entire communities.”
Young said part of the strength of the installation was its simplicity, comprising a compact solar setup with batteries, a sturdy pole-mounted access point, and a backhaul connection.
“Drivers checked routes and messages. Commuters connected with family, work, and opportunity. Small moments — but multiplied hundreds of times over, they add up to real impact.”
MyBroadband spoke to LiBConnect Africa founder and executive director, Liberty Bwanali, about the deployment.
“I started this project at the taxi rank as a gift to the community where I grew up and studied,” he said.
“As there is no electricity at the rank, the system runs entirely on solar power and our own LiBLithtech Lithium battery system.”
Bwanali said it was raining in Stellenbosch on Monday and that, even on such rainy days, the battery system keeps the network operational.
“The boxes contain specialised electronics to manage power generation and network consumption efficiently.”
Regarding the backhaul connection from the access point, Bwanali said he uses various fibre optic network providers.
“I have built my own infrastructure around Stellenbosch to connect from various sources and locations,” he said.
Security and vandalism
As for security and vandalism, Bwanali said they work very closely with the community, as the service is vital for local businesses, taxi drivers, and leisure.
“Because the community recognises the benefits of these ‘Internet in a Box’ products, they help secure the equipment for us,” he said.
“We have been piloting this for 1 year and 10 months with no issues regarding theft or vandalism.”
Bwanali said the community consists of people from several areas, including Cloetesville, Kayamandi, Idas Valley, Pniel, Kylemore, Vlottenburg, Devon Valley, local farms, and the main town.
“The taxi rank serves as a central meeting point where everyone coexists,” he said.
“Our network ensures that people can bond over time and focus on their work, providing a positive outlet even during quiet or difficult seasons.”
He said that since they started working together, they have noticed a significant difference in the atmosphere.
“Crime has gone down considerably, which has helped ensure that everyone using the taxi rank feels safe.”
In addition to the taxi rank project, Bwanali said they also provide home and business services. “We are proud to go the extra mile to keep the community connected,” he said.
“We offer several affordable packages. Community members can purchase access starting at R5 for 500MB (valid for 2 days), R10 for 1GB (valid for 3 days), and R20 for 5GB (valid for 6 days).”
While LiBConnect initially provided free access to community members to introduce the service, they no longer have a free tier.
“This is to ensure we can maintain the infrastructure,” said Bwanali. “The community has found the current pricing to be a great deal.”
LiBConnect, with its Air Fibre and Wi-Fi hotspot services, is among several companies rolling out network infrastructure to underserved communities in the area.
Fibre providers like Vumatel and Fibertime have rolled out uncapped broadband services in Kayamandi. However, these require electricity to operate.
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