The US Trade and Development Agency has provided funding to South Africa’s Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA).
The funding will be used for a pilot project that will help improve internet access for rural and semi-rural areas in South Africa through the use of American TV white space (TVWS) technologies.
The pilot sites will be in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng, and in Mpumalanga.
The consortium carrying out the pilot will be led by Adaptrum and includes Microsoft and International Data Corporation (IDC).
The pilot will help WAPA promote TVWS networks to its wireless internet service provider member companies.
“We are extremely pleased to partner with USTDA to evaluate the viability of TVWS in South Africa. The pilot will benefit our members and ultimately the communities they serve,” said Paul Colmer, Executive Committee Member and Pilot Project Lead.
“This support from USTDA will be invaluable in bridging the digital divide, which is of critical importance to community upliftment.”
