In South Africa, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced during his 2024 State of the Province address that the Gauteng provincial government had invested US$142 million in the Department of Infrastructure Development to provide reliable broadband and 5G connectivity to businesses in the province, making it attractive to investors.
Lesufi emphasised that the best connectivity is essential for the province to attract investors and support those who choose to invest in it. The investment in the Gauteng Broadband Network (GBN) will ultimately mean small businesses, schools, and public institutions in Gauteng will no longer struggle for connectivity.
The Gauteng provincial government first awarded a tender for implementing the GBN to Altech Alcom Matomo in February 2014, after the plan was initiated in January 2013. The project aimed to provide network coverage to 95% of Gauteng’s population, acquire and use ICTs that leverage economies of scale, provide affordable services and enable the interoperability of the GPG’s information systems with those of other government institutions.
It also promised to enhance the efficiency of service delivery and eliminate unnecessary duplication of ICTs in the provincial government whilst ensuring information systems remained secure.
Recently, Gauteng awarded Phase 3 of its broadband network rollout to another company, leading to reductions at Altron Nexus.
