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Gbitel is using its marketplace to bring connectivity and employment to underserved areas

The pandemic has highlighted many issues in South Africa from corruption to citizen support, but the issues that shine the brightest are unemployment and connectivity.

With COVID-19 spreading and South Africans forced to remain at home, the digital economy became more important than ever for many whether it was ordering groceries, medication or just being able to work.

With high bandwidth applications becoming a requirement for work, however, folks in underserved areas have been left behind or forced to use mobile connectivity which still carries exorbitant costs.

Enter Gbitel, a marketplace platform launched by Dartcom in 2018 which allows SMEs to participate in the rollout of fibre connectivity in underserved areas.

“Our extensive experience in telecommunications infrastructure products and services, allows Gbitel, through partners, not only to build reliable and affordable internet infrastructure in our chosen communities but also to impart invaluable skills to local communities to help them develop as installers themselves. The journey from bricks to clicks starts with spades and splicers,” explains chief executive officer at Dartcom, Brett Nash.

What we find particularly interesting is that in the areas where Gbitel rolls out fibre it hires and trains installers from the local community. By doing this, Gbitel believes that these folks can expand their skills to energy, water and other installations.

To date, Gbitel has connected 90 000 homes in underserved areas which has in turn facilitated some R150 million in investments into e-learning and SME development.

“Our shareholders focused on setting up a marketplace to collaborate with the industry in an effort to upskill local communities, create jobs and hopefully with time, unlock economic growth in our chosen areas,” says Pam Marrie, head of corporate social investment at Dartcom.

To find out more about Gbitel head to the official website.

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