STELLENBOSCH – With Stellenbosch often being referred to as the Silicon Valley of South Africa, it should be no surprise that in this corner of the Cape Winelands is an electricity-less taxi rank where commuters and other visitors can access Wi-Fi.
For just under two years, regulars to the public transport facility on the corner of Bird Street and Merriman Avenue have been able to access the internet thanks to an initiative launched by local internet service provider LiBConnect Africa.
The project, aptly dubbed “Internet in a Box”, is the brainchild of Liberty Bwanali, a Stellenbosch resident and self-taught network builder who describes the service as “a gift to the community”.
Simplicity connects
The pilot project first came to fruition about a year and 10 months ago, when the La Colline resident was approached by two men who requested access to LiBConnect Africa’s internet lines.
Bwanali, who established the regional internet service provider at the end of 2018, was immediately intrigued and got to work on creating the system in the hopes that it would connect the community.
After designing and building the system from scratch, he placed a simple black box at the taxi rank, tweaking the creation as needed over the years. The box comprises a compact solar setup with lithium batteries, sturdy pole-mounted access point and a backhaul connection, Bwanali explains.
“I wanted to do something for the community where I studied and grew up as a network builder. I love Stellenbosch and wanted to give the community something that added value. The aim is to grow the community’s understanding of the internet,” he relates.
“For a minimal fee, users can now purchase vouchers that will allow them access to the network. The vouchers cost R5 for 500 MB over two days, R10 for 1 GB over three days and R20 for 5 GB over six days. The beauty of the vouchers is that the system times the user’s time on the network, so the data does not expire after the literal days, but rather once the time online amounts to the purchased hours.”
Internet for all
The 39-year-old innovator is quick to point out that the service is ultimately not about generating a profit, but the funds are rather use to maintain and improve the infrastructure, with the ultimate goal being to roll-out the initiative to other transport facilities in the greater Stellenbosch area.
“Apart from this project connecting people, it has also created opportunities for voucher vendors to make an extra buck,” Bwanali adds.
“Some of the informal traders who sell goods at the taxi rank are the appointed voucher vendors, so the project is also empowering the local community. The vendors get a portion of the sale of vouchers.”
When he first placed the prototype at the transport hub, Bwanali recalls some people laughing at him and others giving him “strange looks”. Since then, though, he has been approached by others requesting for the project to be introduced at other taxi ranks, including the hub in Khayamandi.
Feedback from the community has also fuelled the system’s creator on to improve the offering. “From students and schoolgoing children to elderly commuters, taxi drivers and even homeless people, they have all been accessing the network to gain access to the internet. Even the informal traders have praised the system, because they are able to surf the web surf the web during their lull periods of operation,” he says.
“It has really been a case of the community taking ownership of the system, because there has been no cases of vandalism or theft since the first day. People see the benefits, so they keep an eye on the box.”
More than the box
At first, Bwanali would cart the box from his home to the rank daily and collect it at the end of the day, but he has since found a nearby storage place. He admits that “there was no order at the beginning”, but the system and its operations has been refined so that it experiences less hiccups.
Apart from the “taxi rank vibes” box, LiBConnect Africa is also an internet service provider in various Cape Winelands communities, building and installing networks in areas such as Ida’s Valley and Jamestown, along with its own UPS and lithium energy solutions.
The company also teamed up with the Western Cape government to build and install a free WiFi network at schools in the Delft area.
Bwanali, who is also a keen music producer, hopes to expand his startup’s operations, but seeks financial funding to continue his venture. “I hope to inspire children from the Stellenbosch community and surrounds, to dream big and follow their dreams, like I did,” he says.
“It is heartwarming that I am connecting people through my work, and also forging bonds. I dream of getting the necessary investment to grow this business, create more jobs and continue contributing to the community I so dearly love.”
For more information or to get in touch with Bwanali, contact him via LinkedIn, send an email to connect@libertybwanali.com or call 084 858 4381.
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