PLAYING OUR ROLE SO NO-ONE IS LEFT BEHIND

DIGITAL INCLUSION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT KEY FOR 4IR SUCCESS

The digital world presents every citizen with a host of opportunities to become active participants in local economies and contributors to the growth of the national GDP. However, the task of bridging the digital divide cannot lie solely with the Government; corporate citizens such as Cell C need to play their part in driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

A critical success factor to bridging the digital divide involves access to an affordable, quality network infrastructure to broaden access. In this new world, connectivity becomes a commodity rather than a luxury and Cell C’s drive for digital inclusion has been to adapt to an evolving trend, where infrastructure sharing is the most efficient enabler of network capacity. By entering into roaming agreements with network infrastructure providers, Cell C increases competition and improves digital inclusion by focusing on developing products and services that offer value, while improving accessibility to the digital world.

With the rising cost of living, internet connectivity costs have become unaffordable for many households. South Africans therefore need to be supported as best as possible with innovative solutions that provide access at a price that is affordable. Solutions such as Cell C’s Home Connecta Flexi prepaid LTE product address this gap and bridge the digital divide through a simple, affordable solution that when used in a Wi-Fi router can provide internet access to a household.

Simo Mkhize, Chief Commercial Officer at Cell C says, “Internet connection (Wi-Fi) is still seen a luxury purchase for many households and reserved as a service for the elite. However, in the digital and online world, this should not be so. Affordability plays a big role in digital access – for many, internet access is still at the bottom of the list, when customers are forced to choose between necessities like food versus data. It was with the insight into the realities of our consumer and their needs that Cell C came up with the Home Connecta Flexi offering.” Cell C’s solutions expand beyond products, the organisation invests in initiatives and programmes that will truly empower people. Through the sharing of knowledge and skills, communities can sustain themselves with the necessary infrastructure and resources needed to support local economic growth and sustainability.

Some of Cell C’s programmes and initiatives include:

• Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day, which has moved to online and is teaching high school learners digital skills. The programme has been running for 19 years and has reached approximately five million girls since inception. Some of the girls from the programme have gone on to lead successful careers with some in blue chip companies.

• Cell C Data Science Academy, which focuses on digital skills development. The initiative provides funding and skills to young men and women from disadvantaged backgrounds from all over the country who show high potential in Maths and Science. The selected students then participate in a year-long programme that will see them qualify as ICT innovators with skills that may qualify them as Data Scientists, Engineers and/or Software Developers.

• Cell C Innovation Challenge, which invests in ICT entrepreneurs for economic growth. SMEs or startups in the ICT sector are invited to motivate for resources they need to scale their businesses and are empowered with pitching skills so they may reach out to other potential investors.

• Donations in the form of data, airtime and equipment through its partners e.g. smart devices.

• Connecting public schools and healthcare facilities to the internet across the country.

“We understand the importance of actively partnering with Government to empower South Africans on the journey towards digital inclusion that opens up opportunities that build local economies. Digital inclusion is the step towards empowering South Africans with the necessary resources to change their worlds and successfully execute the nation’s 4IR strategies,” concludes Mkhize.