For years, Telkom has been legally obligated to maintain relics of a bygone communications era: public payphones, directory services, and other universal service obligations written into its licence decades ago. Now, the network operator is asking the regulator for permission to swap those outdated duties for something far more relevant: free Wi-Fi hotspots at community centres across South Africa.
The proposal, currently under consideration by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), would see Telkom provide uncapped, high-speed internet at 171 Thusong Service Centres nationwide.
From Payphones to Public Hotspots
Thusong centres, formerly known as Multipurpose Community Centres, are government facilities designed to provide one-stop access to essential public services, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Yet many of these centres remain unconnected, limiting their ability to serve the communities they’re meant to help.
Telkom’s proposal aims to fix that. Instead of spending money maintaining declining services like public payphones, the company would invest in:
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Installing Wi-Fi routers, cabling, and firewalls at each centre
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Providing uncapped connectivity with speeds of at least 30Mbps
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Maintaining the infrastructure for the duration of the licence
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Resolving any issues within a maximum five-day turnaround
The hotspots would be free for users, subject to a fair usage policy: 300MB daily cap and 2GB monthly cap per consumer.
Why Now?
The timing is strategic. In October 2025, Icasa gazetted a draft notice warning network operators that failure to comply with licence conditions could result in fines of between R500,000 and R1 million. Telkom seized the opportunity to propose a modernised alternative.
Rather than simply meeting old obligations, the company is asking to substitute them with requirements that actually address South Africa’s digital divide.
Icasa confirmed it is “considering Telkom’s universal service and access obligations (USAOs) and substituting some of them with connectivity obligations in relation to Thusong Service Centres.”
The Rollout Plan
If Icasa approves the licence amendments, Telkom must:
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Submit a comprehensive rollout plan for approval, including the list of centres and technology to be deployed
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Begin connecting centres within six months of finalisation
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Complete connectivity to all 171 centres within three years (by October 2028)
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Maintain the infrastructure for the licence period
Telkom will also be required to submit bi-annual compliance reports (by 30 April and 31 October each year) detailing:
The Stakes
Failure to comply carries consequences. Icasa has made clear that non-compliance constitutes “a breach of the licence terms and conditions and will be subject to fines.” Persistent breaches could be referred to the Complaints and Compliance Committee.
But for Telkom, the real incentive is relevance. A company once synonymous with fixed-line telephones is repositioning itself as a connectivity provider for the digital age. Free Wi-Fi at community centres serves that brandand addresses a genuine public need.
What’s Next
Telkom declined to comment further, citing the ongoing regulatory process. “The proposed amendments are currently under consideration by the regulator,” a spokesperson said. “As such, Telkom is not in a position to comment further at this stage.”
Icasa invited public comments on the draft amendments until 21 November 2025. A final decision is expected thereafter.
If approved, the first Thusong centres could be connected within months. For communities that have waited years for reliable internet access, that day cannot come soon enough.
