Broadband internet connectivity in rural communities

On Thursday, 16 November 2023, the Korean Government through the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and Innonet Co. Ltd, an equipment manufacturer based in South Korea will handover over 24 Television White Space (TVWS) gateway equipment to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The devices are envisaged to enable local wireless internet service providers to deploy TVWS broadband networks in rural communities in South Africa. The CSIR is tasked to deploy the equipment for pilot initiatives in rural communities in collaboration with small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) selected for training by Innonet Co. Ltd. Seven beneficiaries of local SMMEs from Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal, Free State, and Eastern Cape will be trained and equipped with the necessary skills to operate the devices.

The partnership stems from the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations in September 2023. The MoU outlined their joint efforts to assist ICT-focused beneficiary SMMEs in various areas, including the piloting of TVWS technology, applied research and technology development, localisation of TVWS equipment and software, and manufacturing of telecommunications equipment in South Africa.

Members of the media are invited to the handover event as follows:

Date: Thursday,16 November 2023
Time: 10:00
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria

RSVP : Media Relations Practitioner, Phetolo Phatsibi: PPhatsibi@csir.co.za

Enquiries:

David Mandaha, CSIR Media Relations Manager
Tel: 012 841 3654
Mobile: 072 126 8910
Email: dmandaha@csir.co.za    

About the CSIR:

The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. For more information, visit www.csir.co.za.

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