Tech in Africa
Isizwe, an African internet service provider targeting low-income communities has received a $460,000 investment from the Global Innovation Fund. This investment is part of the GIF-Anglo American partnership ADVANCE, which looks to unlock private sector investments.
Iiszwe is targeting the townships and informal settlements where it will provide low-cost, pay-per-use Wi-Fi access. Users pay $0.33 for 24 hours’ worth of internet access compared to the $6.63 per gigabyte which is South Africa’s standard rate.
Isizwe builds WiFi Zones containing hardware connecting to Internet Service Providers enabling it to provide internet access in low-income locations. The WiFi Zones will be within walking distance where each zone covers 100 homes. Since its launch in 2020, the team has set up other 80 Wifi Zones, including zones for education groups working facilitating remote learning.
Isizwe runs a community collaborative model where sales agents in the form of WiFi entrepreneurs engage with the corporate partners in sponsoring WiFi access to employees and students in full-time education.
Source: ventureburn
