Joburg cancels contract but free WiFi still on track for 2016

The City of Joburg's rollout of free Wi-Fi has hit a speed bump as the City had to cancel a 12 year contract with CitiConnect Communications.

The contract was cancelled because The City discovered that the provider could not fulfill its obligations on the operation and transfer of the broadband infrastructure to the City.

The City of Joburg initially contracted CitiConnect Communications (CCC) to build broadband capacity in order to ensure the availability of affordable connectivity throughout the City by reducing the cost of communication.

Head of the City’s broadband programme Zolani Matebese said the providers did a good job in setting up the network infrastructure, but they weren’t able to provide the services the City needed to take this to second phase of transforming Joburg into a digital city.

“The (broadband infrastructure) network is the platform from which all the new innovative stuff that the city is doing around the Wi-Fi spots will be done from. Once we needed to get on with the second phase, but we haven’t been able to extract value from the network in the second phase.”

“We gave them ample opportunity to rectify issues but they haven’t been able to fix them, and at some point you have to say it looks as though you have to say it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to rectify the situation so we had to act which is why we parted ways with them” Matebese said.

He said the city will own and operate the network and will implement the alternative service from service providers whilst looking for suitable partners.

Matebese said the City of Joburg is committed to rolling-out 1000 Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of 2016.

So far, 10 Wi-Fi spots have gone live at Orlando Station, Orlando Police station, the Soweto Art Gallery, Park Station, Noordgesig, Joburg Theatre, and Carlton Centre as well at various Rea Vaya stations.

A further said 35 libraries will be connected by June and 85 libraries in the city will have access by the end of the year.