Development Impacts of Free Public Wi-Fi in Johannesburg
Backhouse, Judy and Chauke, Hlelo, "Development Impacts of Free Public Wi-Fi in Johannesburg" in Handbook of Research on Managing Information Systems in Developing Economies (Hershey: IGI Global, 2020), 374-395.
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Book Chapter
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Author Backhouse, Judy
Chauke, HleloChapter Title Development Impacts of Free Public Wi-Fi in Johannesburg Book Title Handbook of Research on Managing Information Systems in Developing Economies Publication Date 2020-04 Place of Publication Hershey Publisher IGI Global Start page 374 End page 395 Language eng Abstract Information and communications technologies (ICTs) promise development gains, yet the complexity and opacity of the relationships between ICT initiative and development effect makes it difficult to identify these development gains or to theorize connections. This case study does both. First, it identifies the connections between the roll-out of free public Wi-Fi by the City of Johannesburg and changes that have resulted in city residents' lives. Second, it uses the choice framework to explain how these changes come about. This qualitative case study conducted interviews with users of the city's free public Wi-Fi service to understand how the service has changed the choices they have, leading to development in the sense of increased capabilities. Benefits identified included easier communications, savings in time and money, social and psychological benefits, as well as increased knowledge, business ideas, access to markets, access to job opportunities, and increased income. This study demonstrates how the linkages can be understood, albeit not in a linear fashion. Keyword research line people
research line governanceCopyright Holder IGI Global Copyright Year 2020 Copyright type All rights reserved ISBN 9781799826101
1799826104
9781799826118DOI 10.4018/978-1-7998-2610-1.ch018 -
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