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The legacy of apartheid in South Africa left people in urban townships and rural areas without access to basic communication technology that defines the digital age. Today, the latest mobile phone technology has changed everything. To reach the poorest communities, the government has had to adapt the technology and build new commercial partnerships. The six video tracks in this album introduce the size of the challenge, government policy and initiatives and the businesses that benefit. This material forms part of the course T324, Keeping Ahead in ICT.
Track 1: Keeping ahead in ICT
A short introduction to this album.
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keeping ahead in ICT | A short introduction to this album. Play now Keeping ahead in ICT |
| 2 | Breaking down Barriers | A technological revolution inside every home - the dream of a communications literate population is becoming a reality. Play now Breaking down Barriers |
| 3 | Affordable technology | Privatising the National Telephone Company leads to commercial partnerships and huge growth in access for townships and rural areas. Play now Affordable technology |
| 4 | Vodacom | Vodacom sells affordable 'airtime', not handsets. Government loans for black businesses is creating new communications entrepreneurs. Play now Vodacom |
| 5 | Phone shops | Feeding the proceeds back into the community – exploring how Phone Shops add value to people's lives. Play now Phone shops |
| 6 | Rival Operators | Payphones versus phone shops - the rival operator to Vodacom, MTN installs phones in existing places of business. Play now Rival Operators |
| 7 | An Entrepreneur's Story | Making profit and meeting demand - Phone Shop owners do good business, but operators neglect hard to reach rural areas. Play now An Entrepreneur's Story |
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