Bwired, the company that will connect the City of
Bwired is an Ericsson South Africa initiative, formed after it was awarded the billion rand Joburg Broadband Network Project (JBNP) last year. The vision is to establish a city-wide, high-speed broadband network that should ultimately stimulate socio-economic development throughout the City.
Broadband is increasingly becoming an important part of economies around the world, with productivity gains from the deployment and use of broadband services expected to increase. It also has a positive effect on employment, with studies showing a correlation between broadband penetration and an increase in employment. Further, broadband enables e-health systems, which have proven instrumental in improving health care systems around the world. In addition, broadband enables everyone to study everywhere.
Bwired is an empowered telecommunications service provider that has a strong focus on answering the need for broadband services, mainly in under-serviced areas. The company is made up of a collaborative emanating from a few small Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who have a history in delivering affordable Internet and broadband services to the Jo’burg market.
Programmes will be set up at a number of techno hub centers, in areas such as Soweto and Alex, to help school children, adults and business owners develop computer, entrepreneurial and job-seeking skills.