Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain get free Internet

Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain residents, including their businesses, will soon be able to access high-speed wireless internet free, as Cape Town implements its plans for high-speed broadband in the city.

At Khayelitsha's modern Harare public library, users are enjoying the fastest internet connection in Cape Town where they can connect at up to 10 gigabytes a second.

From December, residents of both Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain will be able to freely access the web - for a trial period of six months - made possible through equipment used in the 2010 World Cup, which was donated to the Cape Town city council.

The city will spend more than R210-million in the next three years to roll out its fire-optic broadband network, initially connecting government buildings in a 70km loop.

Cape Town's mayoral committee member for corporate services, Demetri Qually, said at the 102 libraries connected to the broadband network, data usage was capped at 500 megabytes a month.

He said the communications equipment, which used to be located at the city's World Cup stadium, was valued at R115-million.

Qually said the free internet access would serve as a test bed for how it could be implemented in other areas.

"We've got a lot of internet service providers who have shown interest because Wi-Fi will help to overcome cable theft."

Lydia Masoleng, who runs a B&B in Khayelitsha, welcomed the move to have better internet access, saying her business would benefit.

"Currently, I have to go to an internet cafe, more than 1km away if I want to communicate via e-mail to prospective guests."

Spokesman for the Cape Chamber of Commerce, Bronwen Kausch, quoted a World Bank study, which showed that a 1.38% increase in gross domestic product came about with a 10% increase in broadband penetration.

"In Khayelitsha, you have lots of informal traders and they will be able to access e-commerce and other applications, not just through computers but also through their cellphones," said Kausch.