Vodacom on Thursday announced plans to invest about R100 million in the construction of 106 new base station locations in deep rural KwaZulu Natal in order to connect hundreds of thousands of people.
This deployment will usher in a new era of mobile connectivity and successfully advance digital inclusion for all, in addition to assisting in closing the notable digital divides that exist in KwaZulu-Natal’s more rural areas.
Locations of new base stations
The new sites will be operationalised in eleven District municipalities, including Amajuba, eThekwini, Harry Gwala, iLembe, King Cetshwayo, Ugu, Umgungundlovu, uMzinyathi, Uthukela, Zululand, uMhlabuyalingana, uMfolozi, uMlalazi, uMsinga, uMzumbe, uMgeni, Ray Nkonyeni, Mandeni, eNdumeni, eDumbe, Msunduzi, Newcastle, and Nqutu.
This investment is a component of Vodacom’s Rural Coverage Acceleration Programme, which aims to complement the excellent work Vodacom regions have done over the years in ramping up network infrastructure outside of urban areas by extending network coverage for residents of deep rural areas of South Africa.
Digital gap
According to GSMA research, deep rural communities are falling behind in terms of broadband connectivity, which keeps many people from participating in the digital transformation, even though high-speed broadband is essential for deep rural development.
Approximately 4 billion people are deprived of the socioeconomic advantages of connectivity since half of the world’s population lacks internet access.
Imran Khan, Managing Executive for Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal region said, “Ensuring network connectivity for individuals living in deep rural areas is fundamental to Vodacom’s commitment to extending service to those in remote areas. This aligns with our goal of connecting everyone, regardless of whether they live in urban centers, townships, or rural locations, which requires investment.”
He added, “We are focused on eliminating barriers and empowering citizens in rural and township communities to enjoy the same network experience as those in metropolitan areas and this way reap the economic benefits of the Digital Economy”.
Importance of broadband penetration in empowering rural dwellers
Broadband penetration is a crucial instrument for empowering people in rural areas because it has the capacity to transform lives and promote social and economic advancement.
According to the World Bank study, GDP growth in developed economies could rise by 1.21 per cent and in developing economies by 1.38 percent with a 10 percentage point increase in fixed broadband penetration.
Rural residents who have internet access will be better able to access essential services like eCommerce, eHealth, and eEducation.
“We are committed to constructing and activating these new sites within this financial year. To achieve our goal and expedite the deployment, we are seeking collaboration from the authorities, particularly in minimising lengthy site approval times. We believe this can be accomplished to assist us in executing a comprehensive rollout of rural sites, facilitating digital transformation, thereby enabling numerous individuals in these regions to access the socio-economic benefits of the internet age,” Vodacom stated.