eThekwini MetroConnect: Broadband for the Community

Description

eThekwini MetroConnect: Broadband for the Community: Abstract

In the early 2000s, the eThekwini Municipality, which included the large city of Durban in the province of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa embarked on a strategy to turn Durban into a ‘Smart City’. As availability and quality of ICT infrastructure was the prerequisite for achieving this goal, the City started laying a next-generation fibre optic cable network throughout the municipal area. In March 2010, however, Jacquie Subban, head of the geographic information and policy unit of the municipality, knew that the real challenge of rolling out municipal broadband to all the businesses and citizens of the area still lay ahead.

Teaching objectives

This case will enable students to discuss and learn about the benefits of introducing broadband connectivity as a municipal venture and how to ensure the greatest possible connectivity.