Do it yourself - Zenzeleni Networks

The project turned a rural community in South Africa, into a telecommunication operator. 3,500 residents are now connected to the network with a 20 times cheaper connection. They upgraded the existing “Zenzeleni Networks” and built a replicable telecommunications co-operative model to allow the most disadvantaged rural areas to self-provide affordable communications at a fraction of the cost offered by other operators. The project is opening new opportunities for young people, providing computer labs in primary and secondary schools and 30 trained teachers. The project team is also setting up backhaul to a fibre network in the nearest city. They are making that happen with a series of wireless relay towers. Zenzeleni is really a community network in the truest sense of the word. The cooperative board set the priorities, they set the rates for things like mobile charging. The people that are running the cooperative are very much interested in the education of the youngsters. They are doing this to open up opportunities for the next generation. Zenzeleni Networks is supported by Internet Society’s Beyond the Net Funding Programme and managed by South Africa Gauteng Chapter in collaboration with the University of Western Cape.

http://zenzeleni.net/

Local implementation: South Africa, Mankosi

Completed from 01/06/2016 to 30/06/2017

* Information and communication infrastructure

• Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

• Project