Technology is best when it brings people together. And Sebenza’s new free wifi solution for taxi commuters is doing just that!
Johannesburg, South Africa (12 May 2023) – The Internet has revolutionized global connectivity, bridging geographical boundaries and bringing people from different corners of the world together. Through social media platforms, online communities, and instant communication tools, the Internet fosters cultural exchange, facilitates collaboration, and promotes understanding among diverse individuals and societies.
And now South Africans are able to connect to the Internet for free while getting to where they need to go.
“Technology is best when it brings people together,” Matt Mullenweg – developer of WordPress. A concise articulation of the intersection of technology, people and connection. Heeding these words, not only does the free wifi solution for taxi commuters, Sebenza, unite people, it connects people to brands and people to the world. Their novel solution of providing free wifi and content to taxi commuters has far more significant benefits for daily travellers than meets the eye.
The World Bank dubbed South Africa the most unequal country in the world. As highlighted by the Global Citizen, “Technology without digital access in education and employment, South Africa risks worsening inequality.” Studies by Project Isizwe reveal that “7.5 million low-income South Africans are paying 80 times more than middle- and upper-income citizens for access to the internet, exacerbating inequality in the country.”
Of the daily commuters, 27% are students, and 20% of commuters travel to school and back. Students benefit when choosing to travel with Sebenza. The daily commute on a Sebenza taxi means students can access the Internet for research or information purposes to elevate their education as they gain more excellent knowledge and information. The Sebenza platform becomes a platform for brands to provide access to continuous learning and teaching beyond the classroom or office.
“In South Africa, millions of commuters travel quite a distance within the city alone, from one taxi rank to another, before reaching their destinations. One of the immediate benefits for passengers is a quite simple, more enjoyable and entertaining commute,” says Mayi Tshwete, Official Spokesperson for Sebenza.
Entertainment includes games and the gamification of engaging content and tailored advertising. The distraction provided by entertainment decreases the perception of travel time. The Sebenza solution also directly addresses the digital divide.
Sebenza Free Wifi Gets to Work with Real Community Impact
Free education resources are abundant online, but one needs to be able to get online first to take advantage thereof. Brands that provide these empowering education tools can now reach an exclusive commuter market in dire need of education to close the inequality gap in South Africa. Similarly, there’s the opportunity for more productivity. Time spent travelling can be used to check emails, get a head start on a project or even research their line of work. Free wifi helps commuters stay connected to friends, family or work colleagues in an emergency.
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Tshwete acknowledges commuter safety’s importance in South Africa. “We are currently looking at an emergency button on Sebenza for enhanced commuter safety. This commuter/pedestrian safety content is a project we hope to launch soon.”
Furthermore, in exchange for free wifi, passengers are rewarded for engaging in meaningful interactions with brands in the form of Sebenza bucks.
Viewers that engage with content within the platform earn Sebenza Bucks, which can be redeemed in several ways. Commuters can buy internet time or redeem their bucks on the “spin ‘n win” wheel to stand a chance to win grocery, food or data vouchers. As the platform grows, the creative uses for Sebenza Bucks and the platform’s versatility, and what it offers users evolve in even better ways to serve the community.
“Sebenza,” meaning “to work,” is certainly living up to its name and working to improve the daily commute and daily life of hundreds of thousands of taxi users.
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