Broadband Infraco Brings Affordable Internet to Over 1.5 Million South Africans

Broadband Infraco, in partnership with 76 Internet Service Providers (ISPs), has deployed over 6,312 community Wi-Fi hotspots across South Africa.

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These efforts, part of the SA Connect project, have provided affordable Internet access to underserved communities, connecting more than one point five million households.

Empowering Underserved Communities

The SA Connect initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s mission to bridge the digital divide.

Phase 1 focused on piloting connectivity for essential public services, such as schools and hospitals.

Building on this success, Phase 2 has expanded to provide Wi-Fi hotspots at scale, targeting rural and underserved areas.

Each hotspot dramatically reduces data costs—from R80 per gigabyte via mobile providers to just R8 on public Wi-Fi.

This cost-effectiveness has empowered countless South Africans, enabling:

• Access to Education: Affordable data makes e-learning and online resources accessible to students.
• Entrepreneurial Growth: Small business owners and informal traders can now advertise online, take direct orders, and expand their market reach.
• Everyday Convenience: Simple tasks, like accessing information, are now easier and cheaper.

Driving Socioeconomic Change

“The impact is life-changing,” says Broadband Infraco CEO Gift Zowa. “People no longer need to travel long distances for information, and entrepreneurs are seeing new business opportunities.”

To date, ISPs involved in the project have benefited from subsidies tied to successfully deploying these hotspots, accelerating project implementation and fostering ISP empowerment.

A Vision for the Future

Broadband Infraco aims to install a total of 16,000 hotspots by 2026, as part of Phase 2, while Sentech tackles a similar number. This rollout is only the beginning:

• Phase 3 Plans: Nearly 100,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots are envisioned, with the potential to connect 10 million more households.
• Government Commitment: The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is now pushing to achieve 100% Internet connectivity by 2027, ahead of the original 2030 goal.

“We are designing for a future where affordable Internet access is a reality for every South African,” concludes Zowa.

Click here for more information about Broadband Infraco