The free Wi-Fi network launched by Project Isizwe in the City of Tshwane in Pretoria, South Africa, has seen uptake treble in the past month, with 1,200 users now logging on to the network each day.
HumanIPO reported in November on the launch of the free Wi-Fi network, which Project Isizwe hopes will harness the potential offered by the internet to achieve economic and educational development.
While last month only 450 people connected to the network each day, Project Isizwe has announced this figure has near tripled to 1,200 users daily in the past month.
The number of total monthly unique users has doubled, from 6,500 users on January 15, to 13,000 by February 15, while the total number of sessions on the network has also grown, reaching 61,000 this month, up from 23,000 in mid-January.
“We will be monitoring the numbers carefully and as the network grows in 2014, we look forward to seeing how many new people are being connected and getting access to the power of the internet,” Project Isizwe said.
Founded by former Mxit chief executive officer (CEO) Alan Knott-Craig Jr, Project Isizwe in August last year reached out to the City of Tshwane to partner in the free Wi-Fi project, with plans also in place to roll out a network on the Cape Flats.
Knott-Craig said the concept behind the project is to target low income areas with free Wi-Fi, and show regional governments how to roll out networks in a financially sustainable manner.
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