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USTDA expands affordable internet access across South Africa

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USTDA awards grant to South Africa TV White Space project. Image sourced from Twitter.
USTDA awards grant to South Africa TV White Space project. Image sourced from Twitter.

On 5 August 2019, The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) announced that they had awarded a grant to South Africa’s Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA) for a pilot project that aims to help improve internet access for rural and semi-rural areas in South Africa. This will be done through the use of American TV white space (TVWS) technologies.

“This grant demonstrates USTDA’s continuing commitment to developing quality and affordable ICT infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through our Access Africa initiative, USTDA is connecting our African partners with innovative U.S. suppliers of technology ideally suited for the local environment,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director.

TVWS technology utilizes unused broadcast spectrum to help connect customers in semi-rural and rural regions to affordable internet service. USTDA’s pilot aims to highlight the technology of Adaptrum, a wireless broadband solutions provider that is based in San Jose, California, as well as the technologies of other U. S. companies. The consortium that will carry out the pilot will be led by Adaptrum and will include Microsoft and International Data Corporation (IDC) of Framingham, MA. USTDA’s pilot program aims to 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. This support from USTDA will be invaluable in bridging the digital divide, which is of critical importance to community upliftment,” said Paul Colmer, Executive Committee Member and Pilot Project Lead.

“Since deploying the first TVWS system in Africa, Adaptrum has seen the huge potential of this technology to bring much-needed connectivity to unserved communities. With this pilot, which brings together local stakeholders as well as leading experts spanning technology and financing, we are aiming to build a sustainable business model to provide affordable broadband using TVWS across South Africa, which can be replicated over a large percentage of rural Africa,” said Haiyun Tang, CEO of Adaptrum.

The grant was signed by the Political and Economic Chief for the U. S. Consulate General in Durban, Hala Rharrit, on behalf of the USTDA, along with Paul Colmer, WAPA Executive Member. The project is said to support Prosper Africa, a U. S. government initiative that aims to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between Africa and the United States.

Edited by Kojo Essah

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