CASE STUDY
Think WiFi has undertaken the mission of empowering people across South Africa by helping to close the digital divide through digital equality . The company , which was formed in South Africa in 2018 and is privately owned , offers a measurable and sustainable free Wi-Fi services and solutions to those communities that currently lack Internet access .
A unique digital advertising platform funds the model , enabling Internet access to be provided free to those who need it most . This purpose-driven advertising model provides brands with saliency in township economies , while delivering the industry with performance-driven metrics and positively measured community impact . This , in turn , funds free , uncapped Wi-Fi that uplifts under-serviced communities and narrows the digital divide , ensuring that everyone ultimately wins . For the man in the street , local businesses and communities , these Wi-Fi hotspots provide access to the digital economy , online education , government e-services , healthcare , news and information , social media , entertainment , finance , plus trade and educational development courses .
Making the Internet freely available also allows employers to connect to local skills , empowers entrepreneurs with market access and increased awareness , and helps owners grow their small businesses , contributing to economic growth in the community . Currently this free Wi-Fi network is live in parts of the Western Cape , Gauteng , Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa .
The challenge
Statistics indicate that a little over half of the country ’ s population – around 56.3 % of 60 million – were using the Internet in 2020 . This figure is expected to increase to just 62.3 % by 2025 .
THE WI-FI PLATFORM IS BEING ADAPTED FOR SMART CITY INTERNET
OF THINGS ( IOT ) APPLICATIONS . THESE WILL DRIVE INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION AND
IMPROVE COMMUNITY SECURITY .
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