Social media giant Facebook has announced that it will partner with Cell C to launch its Express Wi-Fi service in South Africa.
"With Express Wi-Fi, Facebook works with Internet providers and mobile operators to help build and grow their Wi-Fi businesses in a sustainable and scalable way," the company said.
In other words, people can buy vouchers from a small business owner to access and use Facebook Express Wi-Fi via a hotspot.
"People typically access Express Wi-Fi hotspots by signing up with a participating retailer and purchasing a prepaid data pack," Facebook says.
"Using Express Wi-Fi hotspots, our partners can easily expand their services and provide faster, more affordable connectivity to rural and urban areas."
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said Express Wi-Fi is a project to get more people online. "Anyone can run an Express Wi-Fi hotspot, which means entrepreneurs across the country can offer their communities faster and more affordable internet," he said in 2017 when it launched in India.
The Internet service is low cost while providing a strong and stable connection.
Facebook already has Express Wi-Fi in India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania. It will also partner with Vodafone in Ghana and Globe in the Philippines to increase its footprint in those countries.
