Three sisters — Kholeka, Tobeka, and Bongeka Lwana — have launched an Internet service provider to make connectivity more accessible in South African townships.
Lokshin WiFi, a low-cost wireless Internet service provider (WISP), launched on 12 August 2022.
WISPs are Internet service providers offering subscribers a point-to-point wireless connection to the Internet, usually over a technology that uses unlicensed radio frequency spectrum like Wi-Fi.
Lokshin WiFi uses FibrePoynt’s — a fixed wireless broadband provider — cloud-based platform and solar-powered network infrastructure to provide low-cost Internet connectivity to consumers and small businesses. FibrePoynt is a technology developed by Poynting in South Africa to reduce the cost of fibre deployments in neighbourhoods.
Yes, the daily cost is a bit pricey, but that is compared to fibre, and monthly packages are more affordable especially when shared. Infrastructure has been problematic in many areas due to the workers being attacked, or the infrastructure stolen. So wireless with solar makes a lot of sense. Wireless can certainly also allow for range extending or mesh networking to reach further without having to lay infrastructure down.
But without a doubt, the value of communication and information that this access brings, is priceless to any community.
#technology #southafrica #WiFi #WISP