Broadband roll-out areas for government Internet announced

President Jacob Zuma announced during his State of the Nation address that 2015 will mark the beginning of the first phase of the South African government’s broadband roll-out initiative.

Telkom has been designated as the lead agency to assist with the roll-out.

“Our economy needs a major push forward,” Zuma said at the beginning of his address.

He went on to present a nine-point plan to “ignite growth and create jobs”, one of which included ICT infrastructure and broadband roll-out.

The initial phase of the government’s broadband roll-out will encompass offices in 8 district municipalities, Zuma said.

Municipalities to benefit from this initial roll-out are:

• Dr Kenneth Kaunda in North West
• Gert Sibande in Mpumalanga
• O.R. Tambo in the Eastern Cape
• Pixley ka Seme in the Northern Cape
• Thabo Mofutsanyane in the Free State
• Umgungundlovu and Umzinyathi in KwaZulu-Natal
• Vhembe in Limpopo

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State of the Nation 2015 live stream