| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 9, 2012 |
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Steve Lewis | (703) 875-4357 |
USTDA SUPPORTS INTERNET CONNECTIVITY EXPANSION IN KHAYELITSHA AND MITCHELLS PLAIN TOWNSHIPS IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
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USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak (center, seated) and Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille (far right) participate in a grant signing ceremony in Cape Town, Aug. 8, 2012. Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs Robert D. Hormats (far left) witnessed the grant signing.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Promoting the expansion of internet connectivity in South Africa is the goal of a grant signed yesterday between USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak and Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille. The grant to the City of Cape Town will fund a feasibility study that will evaluate the viability of expanding internet services in the under-connected areas of Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.
The $315,000 grant will support an evaluation of the suitability of the existing infrastructure to extend Cape Town's fiber optic backbone to businesses and households in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. If implemented, the new network will connect the two townships to Cape Town's existing fiber optic network, the first phase of which was completed in March 2012. The network, known as the Cape Town Metropolitan Optic Fibre Network (MOFN), provides increased bandwidth and connectivity to Internet Service Providers and the municipality's network. By extending Cape Town's MOFN and providing advanced network services to the Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain townships, citizens will have increased access to affordable, reliable telecommunications services in these two important areas in Cape Town, South Africa.
"This project is a great opportunity for USTDA to support the expansion of the information and communication infrastructure in Cape Town, while also contributing to South Africa's economic development," said Director Zak. "With the United States being a leader in telecommunications, this partnership will play an important role in helping South Africa meet their internet connectivity goals."
"Greater and faster internet connectivity is rapidly becoming as important municipal infrastructure as roads, electricity, water and sanitation" said Executive City Mayor Patricia de Lille. "It will be a key factor in releasing the entrepreneurial talent that undoubtedly exists within these communities."
The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.
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