Vodacom creates the first smartphone-only town in South Africa

Providing network connectivity for people who reside in rural areas is a high priority for Vodacom. This is why, in 2019, Vodacom partnered with BPG Langfontein, a farming business in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, to pioneer a new network model for the town and surrounding communities.

Through this innovative partnership, Vodacom successfully moved the entire town to 4G devices and built new base stations in the area, opening a new world of connectivity and creating the first smartphone-only town in South Africa.

Three years since the launch of the project, Wakkerstroom and its citizens have experienced the full benefits of the digital revolution and are able to participate freely in our digital world. Through 4G digital devices and connectivity, Vodacom removed previous communication barriers, allowing the people of Wakkerstroom to connect to the internet and with each other in new ways, accessing essential government services and the even the world of e-Commerce.

“Vodacom has long been on a journey to transform the lives of people through the use of technology. The town of Wakkerstroom highlights the truly transformative potential of connectivity and shows the importance of building partnerships and investing in deep rural areas as well as in the townships to make sure that nobody gets left behind,” says Zakhele Jiyane, Managing Executive: Vodacom Mpumalanga Region.

Vodacom has recently revisited the people of Wakkerstroom to unpack the impact of this initiative over the past few years and uncover the true value of connectivity on the community and farmworkers within the area.

Watch the clip below https://tilt.egnyte.com/dl/htVyGqr7NB

Main Image: Memeburn