- Liquid Intelligent Technologies secures 111M investment to enhance digital connectivity in Western Cape.
- New Wi-Fi network will provide 1,600 hotspots and 6GB of free data to 4 million people.
- Liquid expands into the Middle East, bolstering its position as Africa's leading digital infrastructure provider.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, owned by Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, has expanded its partnership with the Western Cape Government with a 111 million investment to enhance digital connectivity across the region.
Expanding digital access in Western CapeThe investment will fund the expansion of free public Wi-Fi hotspots over the next seven years as Liquid aims to improve internet access, supporting mobile learning, job creation, and entrepreneurship.
The network, available at 1,600 locations across 26 municipalities, provides 6GB of monthly data per device at speeds of up to 20 Mbps, with government websites free to access. Western Cape, already leading South Africa in internet access at 88.1, is set to benefit further from this collaboration.
Western Cape's digital growthHarry Malila, Director-General of the Western Cape Government, emphasized the success of the ten-year partnership, particularly its impact on government buildings, schools, hospitals, and rural areas. He noted the importance of technology in providing job opportunities for youth and expressed optimism about the next phase of collaboration under Broadband 2.0.
Simphiwe Dzengwa, Managing Director of SITA State Information Technology Agency, called the partnership a successful model for public-private collaboration and highlighted its role in expanding connectivity in communities and government infrastructure. Dzengwa also shared plans to extend this model to other South African provinces.
