Gigs for Schools!
Evotel’s network continues to reign supreme in Rustenburg, Krugersdorp, Vryheid, Newcastle, and Ladysmith, where the majority of schools visited by the Fibre Network Operator (FNO) have given the it the thumbs up for its uncapped, unshaped, and unrestricted connectivity.
Being welcomed with warm smiles by school administrators in cities rich with history clearly indicates that Evotel is navigating in familiar territory, where its direction is evident, and the guiding force is the happiness it brings to these communities.
Generosity Changes Lives.
Evotel, with sleek with black and teal branding, is an example in the industry in corporate investment in schools, with nearly 100 institutions benefiting from their free 1-Gig internet access.
The generosity of providing free fibre to more than 90 schools across Gauteng, the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State is a testament to changing lives in an era where learning institutions must have stable internet access.
It has been proven that such initiatives have the power to significantly enhance education in the country, enriching both learners and educators with valuable lessons and a deep understanding of the future.
Too Good to Be Matched
According to Evotel management, the free connections don’t stop here—they will continue until all schools are digitised.
The significant impact of this reliable, free internet access in schools cannot be overstated, as it opens up a world of educational resources and opportunities. This has been demonstrated by learners at Limit Hill Combined School in Ladysmith.
Gerard Fynn, the school’s administrator, recently expressed the school’s appreciation for Evotel’s generous contribution.
“We are thrilled and grateful, and so are the staff, students, and principal. You have shown genuine interest in our progress with coding and robotics,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, in Rustenburg, Laerskool Protea Park’s principal, Henk Pietersen, expressed their pride in being among Evotel’s beneficiaries.
All Classes Experience the Net
“All learners in our 60 classes, from Grade R to Grade 7, have experienced the Evotel network. Even our special needs class is enjoying Evotel’s support. We also have a special feature at our school: our music classes are wholly reliant on internet access, as they use a lot of beats from YouTube and download resources from our free sites,” said Pietersen, while showing us the school’s infrastructure and explaining the reasons for recent renovations.
Just a stone’s throw away from Laerskool Protea Park, still in the North West, lies Hoërskool Bersig, where administrator Jacques Strydom praised the connectivity speed.
“We’re currently in the midst of the Matric preliminary examinations, and most learners spend time browsing through past papers, which is made possible by the magic of the internet. We will have virtual examinations that will rely entirely on a stable connection to prevent cheating,” emphasised Strydom.
Vryheid Parents Comment
In KwaZulu-Natal, parents in Vryheid are speaking on behalf of schools like Lucas Meyer Primary School, Risen Son Academy, and Michaelis Private School.
Rose Viljoen, a parent of two learners at Lucas Meyer, said: “Life has been simplified. In the past, parents were expected to buy LTE routers for their children and ensure they had data for their schoolwork. But that’s a thing of the past now, with free internet access at the school. Can you imagine how much we save during these tough economic times? It’s unmatched. The children are enjoying school more because of the proper infrastructure at the school.”
Digital Skills Programme Launched
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi officially launched the Broadband and Digital Skills Programme—a joint initiative between the Department of Communications, SALGA, and the British High Commission.
The programme aims to empower municipal managers and councillors to steer the deployment of broadband infrastructure in an inclusive manner, reaching as many people as possible—especially those who are digitally disconnected or have been left behind by recent digital advances.
The ultimate goal of the programme is to equip local representatives and municipalities with the skills they need to leverage digital innovations, improve service delivery, and enhance public participation. This will also help bridge the gap between digital/tech professionals and policymakers, with the former often frustrated by the lack of understanding among politicians of the very technologies they are mandated to oversee.
To ensure you are getting the true speed of your connection ensure that the device you are using to test has Network hardware that are capable performing at higher speeds than your connection speed.
For example, to get an accurate test of your connection at 800 Mbps you should test on a device capable of transferring data at least 1000 Mbps.
