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More than six million Western Cape residents will have access to 3GB of data per device every month as part of a plan to expand the public Wi-Fi network.
The expanded network will be available across all municipalities, with speeds that are five times faster, the provincial government and Liquid Telecommunications SA announced in a joint statement.
This is part of a R3bn plan to expand broadband connectivity at provincial libraries, schools, clinics and offices.In terms of the partnership, free public Wi-Fi hotspots will be expanded to 1 600 government buildings.
Anyone with Wi-Fi enabled on their phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers will be able to connect at these hotspots without any logins or passwords.
Mobile broadband costs 'still very high'
The hotspots will be installed over the next three years and the project will run for five years.
Government websites will remain permanently free for hotspot users.
Premier Helen Zille said households in the province already had the highest levels of internet access in the country at 70.8%, according to StatsSA in 2018.
She believed the Wi-Fi plan would help position the region as a leading global digital hub.
"Most people and communities in rural, remote areas rely heavily on mobile phones to stay in touch and conduct business.
"Since mobile broadband costs are still very high to many citizens, public access Wi-Fi networks present an opportunity for citizens to connect, not only to each other, but also to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities."
