15th Council Meeting of the Tshwane Metro 27th of September 2007
Annexure A1 Item 16
The ACDP wants to congratulate the Mayor for taking this Smart City Digital Hub programme and running with it.
This is a giant step towards a broadband city that may have a huge impact on the economic growth of the Tshwane Metro.
Between 2001 and 2003 a study was done in the USA, in the City of
Leesburg when the municipal owned utility, provided on top of their
regular electricity services, fiber connectivity to municipal offices,
hospitals, doctors offices, schools and private business to the City
and much of Lake County (LC).
In comparing Lake County (LC) to other Counties in Florida it was found
that Lake County experienced approximately 100% greater growth in
economic activity relative to comparable Florida Counties in the time
span of 2 years.
Can I live without connectivity?
No!
There are quite a few councillors who sit here today with laptops and
modems to connect to the Internet. I hope to be able to connect to the
Internet soon by just plugging into the power supply connection at
home. The PC has become a necessity just the same as the mobile phone.
Hardly any business, no matter it’s size, can survive without
access to the Internet. The ACDP welcomes the rollout of this Smart
City Digital Hub Programme, over 18 months, and we look forward to
living in a digitalised Metro.
And most off all because of the inclusion of all 5 the regions.
This will create the opportunity for more people to become computer literate.
It will uplift and
has become a human right in this day and age we are living in.
It will also empower women, as per the goals of the Progressive
Women’s Movement, when they get connected to the rest of the
globe.
Information will be at the tip of their fingers.
Well done - we are on our way to be a leader in Africa.