Gauteng broadband project ‘faces axe’
The South African province, containing Johannesburg and Pretoria, approved the multibillion integration of existing network infrastructure to provide cheaper access to broadband Internet services. The government intended to spur economic development and attract more business investment. After building the R 20 billion GAUTRAIN, there is not a cent left for this project.
Meanwhile, GBCN’s partner, TWU Broadband Communications, has formally offered to fund, build, and operate Power Grid Networks on the local electricity distribution grids of the City of Tshwane (Pretoria) and Ekurhuleni (an even larger adjoining municipality).
These Power Grid Networks will provide smart grid management services and broadband communications for end-users, customers, as well as all cellular carriers operating in these Municipalities.
The RSA government has touted the need for “public / private partnerships” to bring private sector solutions to infrastructure problems.