Western Cape Digital Readiness Report

Ground-breaking research to understand the state of ICT in the Western Cape. 

The Western Cape Digital Readiness Assessment is a first-of-its-kind analysis tailored to assess the digital readiness of the province. The study adapts the framework and employs some of the indicators that the World Economic Forum uses in the global Network Readiness Index. However, this study drills down further into the access, use and adoption of ICT's. The outcome is a more informative tool to aid the Western Cape Government over the course of the rollout of its various broadband initiatives. 

The research surveyed thousands of households and individuals in the province. This provincial baseline survey further honed in on the underserved areas of Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain and Saldanha Bay. 

The report sheds light on factors such as access and usage levels, availaibility of ICT infrastructure, policy environment, devices, public access facilities, cost of access, education levels, and the state of digital content creation. 

This study will become part of a longitudinal analysis of the impact of broadband in the Western Cape over a period of at least 10 years, to demonstrate the province’s commitment of creating an enabling environment and supporting the development of a globally competitive society and region.

The Western Cape Government is investing over R2.89 billion to connect every resident to broadband. 

The research was developed by Research ICT Africa, in partnership with the Universities of Cape Town and Western Cape and was undertaken for the Broadband Initiative Unit within the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

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