Icasa Directs Telkom to Roll Out Free Wi-Fi Across Rural Areas Within 6 Months

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, known as Icasa, has told Telkom to roll out free Wi-Fi across rural areas at thusong centres within six (6) months. This is a big step to help people in rural areas get better internet access. If Telkom does not do this on time, they could be fined up to R1 million.

Icasa directs Telkom to roll out free Wi-Fi across rural areas in these multipurpose service centres, which provide important government and community services like Home Affairs, social security, and health. Many of these centres don’t have good internet right now, making it hard for people to get the help or information they need.

Telkom to roll out free Wi-Fi across rural areas has become necessary because Icasa changed some rules. Before, Telkom had to bring internet to areas that didn’t have it, but now Icasa wants them to focus on thusong centres. This means these centres will turn into places where people can easily go online for work, education, and government services.

Telkom has to make a detailed plan about connecting these centres. The first group of thusong centres should have Wi-Fi by April 2026, and all 171 centres must be connected by October 2028. Each Wi-Fi spot will offer uncapped internet at speeds of at least 30Mbps. There will be a fair use rule, with a daily limit of 300MB or 2GB per month so everyone can share the internet fairly.

Telkom will also set up everything, like routers and cabling, and fix any problems within five working days. They will pay for all the installation, support, and maintenance costs. On top of that, Telkom to roll out free Wi-Fi across rural areas means they have to send progress reports twice every year, by April 30 and October 31. These reports will show how many centres have Wi-Fi and how good the service is, so Icasa can keep track of the progress.

If Telkom does not follow these orders, they could be fined between R500,000 and R1 million. If the problem continues, Icasa’s compliance committee could give even more serious penalties. This pushes Telkom to keep the rollout on track and make sure the Wi-Fi service reaches rural people soon.

This order from Icasa is very important for South Africa. Right now, many people in rural areas spend a lot of money on mobile data to get online. The internet in cities is much faster and cheaper, but rural areas are left behind. This divides the country when it comes to access to education, work opportunities, and government services online.

By asking Telkom to roll out free Wi-Fi across rural areas, especially in thusong centres, Icasa hopes to close this digital gap. These centres will become reliable places where people can do their government paperwork, join online classes, look for jobs, and connect to the internet without extra cost. This fits well with South Africa’s plan for a digital economy that includes everyone.

Telkom’s plan to roll out free Wi-Fi across rural areas also shows how important Telkom is in making the internet available to the public. Because Telkom is one of the biggest telecom companies and partly owned by the government, they have the tools and network to make this happen. But it also means they have bigger responsibilities to deliver.

With this clear order from Icasa, supported with deadlines and fines, Telkom must act fast. The hope is that this project will help many people in small towns and rural communities get online for the first time, making it easier to learn, work, and get help from the government. This is a big step forward for a more connected South Africa.

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