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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  • Author Backhouse, Judy
    Chauke, Hlelo
    Chapter 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 governance
    Copyright Holder IGI Global
    Copyright Year 2020
    Copyright type All rights reserved
    ISBN 9781799826101
    1799826104
    9781799826118
    DOI 10.4018/978-1-7998-2610-1.ch018
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    Created: Fri, 08 May 2020, 01:10:05 JST by Mario Peixoto on behalf of UNU EGOV