The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and Ilitha Telecommunications Ltd. are partnering on a feasibility study regarding Wi-Fi connectivity in South Africa's townships. The study will involve the examination of a solar-powered Wi-Fi solution provided by MeshPlusPlus Inc. (Mesh++), an Illinois-based company, and Georgia-based Vernonburg Group LLC, according to a July 11 news release.
“Throughout our history, USTDA’s program has enabled our partners to navigate the rapidly changing technology landscape and envision possibilities for their digital future,” Enoh Ebong, USTDA's director, said in the release.
USTDA awarded a grant to Ilitha for a feasibility study aimed at providing reliable and affordable internet access to more than five million people in South Africa's townships, the release said. The study will evaluate technical options and costs for expanding Ilitha's fixed wireless access networks in South Africa's townships, with a pilot project focusing on the Eastern Cape Province to assess the viability of solar-powered Wi-Fi technology in areas with unreliable electricity access.
Ilitha CEO Vuyani Jarana expressed gratitude to USTDA for funding the deployment of Mesh++ in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, emphasizing that the investment will not only test and validate the technology but also provide affordable broadband service to those in need, the release said. U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety II highlighted the importance of fully connecting the country to unleash its economic potential, improve access to critical services such as education and health care, and create job opportunities.
The grant aligns with USTDA's Digital Transformation with Africa initiative, Prosper Africa initiative and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, demonstrating the U.S. government's commitment to fostering partnerships between American and African companies in the digital access sector, the release reported.
“Our new partnership with Ilitha is just one example of how USTDA is working to bring innovative, high-quality U.S. solutions to help bridge the digital divide in South Africa,” Ebong said in the release.
