TikTok rollout 50 free Wi-Fi hotspots in some communities in the country. The new initiative is a collaborative effort between the short video social media platform and Think Wifi, a wifi service provider.
The pilot project will deploy free wi-fi hotspot deployed in Soweto, Gauteng, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha in the Western Cape, and Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, with the pilot expected to run over six months.
“We understand that as an entertainment platform accessible on mobile devices, TikTok plays an important role in the digital world,” said Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok director for government relations and public policy in Sub-Saharan Africa. With this pilot, we hope to encourage more people to join digital spaces such as ours, to not only create content but to learn new skills.
Speaking about partnership with TikTok and making internet acccessible, Janine Rebelo, CEO at ThinkWiFi said: “We are excited to be making a contribution to one of the most important needs of our people today. Opportunities on the internet for our youth are endless but many South Africans do not have access to digital hardware, digital literacy skills and internet connectivity.”
“The latter reality is exacerbated by the high cost of data and the limited availability of infrastructure to support broadband penetration targets. We are delighted to contribute towards bridging the digital divide, promoting internet accessibility and reducing digital inequalities in our country”
