Telkom Ordered To Roll Out Free Wi-Fi At Thusong Centres Or Face Heavy Fines

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has ordered Telkom to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots at community centres across the country or face steep penalties of up to R1 million for failing to comply.

Connecting Communities Across South Africa

Icasa’s latest directive, published in the Government Gazette, outlines a major national connectivity project aimed at bridging South Africa’s digital divide. The regulator wants Telkom to roll out free internet access at 171 Thusong Service Centres, which are community-based facilities providing public access to government information and essential services.

Many of these centres, which were formerly known as Multipurpose Community Centres, currently lack reliable internet. Icasa’s goal is to change that by making connectivity part of Telkom’s Universal Service and Access Obligations (USAOs) effectively turning the state-linked operator into a key driver of public digital access.

Strict Timelines And Connectivity Standards

Telkom has been given six months from 10 October 2025 to start connecting the first batch of Thusong Centres, meaning installations must begin by April 2026. All 171 centres must be fully connected by October 2028.

Each site will be required to offer uncapped Wi-Fi with minimum speeds of 30Mbps, ensuring that residents can access online government portals, educational resources, and other essential digital services.

Icasa has also mandated that Telkom include in its rollout plan:

• A full list of the Thusong Centres to be connected

• The technology and infrastructure to be used at each site

• A year-by-year connection target

• A detailed quality assurance process for testing connection speeds

Free Access, Fair Usage

While the Wi-Fi service will be free to the public, it will operate under a fair usage policy. Users will receive 300MB per day and a monthly cap of 2GB per person a limit designed to balance accessibility and network stability.

Telkom will be responsible for all installation, maintenance, and repair work, including routers, cabling, and network firewalls. Any technical issues must be resolved within five working days.

Accountability And Financial Consequences

Icasa’s notice also introduces a strong accountability mechanism. Telkom must submit compliance reports twice a year by 30 April and 31 October detailing how many centres are connected, average connection speeds, and data usage metrics.

Failure to meet the rollout or service quality requirements could result in fines ranging from R500,000 to R1 million, depending on the severity of the non-compliance. Persistent breaches may also be escalated to Icasa’s Complaints and Compliance Committee for further action.

A Push For Digital Equity

This move by Icasa signals a renewed push toward digital inclusion in South Africa, where millions still lack access to affordable or reliable internet. Thusong Centres, particularly in rural and underserved areas, are seen as a cornerstone of community development and the rollout could help unlock new opportunities in education, small business, and civic engagement.

For Telkom, the project is both a challenge and an opportunity to reassert its relevance in a market increasingly shaped by private fibre operators and mobile data providers.

If executed successfully, the initiative could bring South Africa a step closer to universal internet access and give thousands of people a vital connection to the digital world.

{Source: My Broadband}

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