The Western Cape provincial government has selected three sites for the pilot phase of the province’s broadband network roll-out, which was aimed at giving all Western Cape citizens broadband access by 2020.

The Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) area, in Khayelitsha, the proposed Cape Health Technology Park and the Fringe District in the East City, were the three areas selected for the pilot phase.

The provincial government's broadband network would play a major role in transforming residents’ lives, said Western Cape Finance, Economic Development and Tourism Minister Alan Winde.

“As a major business hub in one of our historically disadvantaged areas, the VPUU has been selected to benefit from the roll-out of broadband in the pilot phase. Cheaper, faster Internet will draw even more investment into this flourishing area, creating jobs and opportunities for more people to climb out of poverty,” he noted.

He added that the health technology and creative sectors were highly dependent on the availability of cost-effective and fast Internet connectivity.

“That is why we are investing in the infrastructure that will attract substantial business investment into both these projects.”

In addition to the roll-out of broadband in these pilot areas, Winde said schools would also benefit from the roll-out of the technology.

Western Cape Minister of Education Donald Grant said the provincial government was investigating digital content for mobile devices designed specifically for school learner material.

The Western Cape departments of Education and Economic Development and Tourism were working closely together to achieve this.