Faizel Patel – 05/06/2020

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

The founder and chief executive officer of Lemok Group which has launched South Africa’s first township-based mobile network provider says, they want to connect townships across South Africa to the World Wide Web.

Kasi Mobile operates as a data-only service provider, with packages powered by both Telkom and MTN.

The network launched on 1 June following the unveiling of its Libra smartphone late last year.

Lebogang Mokubela says the group aims to provide access to data to all of South Africa’s major cities, towns, townships as well as rural areas through the mobile network.

“This Monday we launched Kasi Mobile. Essentially also because our traditional market or our assist market is within the township and rural areas, purely on the basis that we want to be able to give access to the internet to those areas that do not necessarily have internet coverage. And usually the issue there is the price point as well.”

Mokubela says access to the internet opens a world of opportunities.

“The internet ultimately gives opportunity. It exposes you the world and the world of opportunity. Often at times in townships and rural areas you find that one of the things that are missing with young people is that exposure and the internet provides that exposure.”

He says they’ve launched with wireless LTE data services with the smallest package at R99 for 10GB+10GB, on a month-to-month basis, no contracts.

Mokubela says besides the SIM-only deals, Kasi Mobile will also be selling both smartphones, Wi-Fi and Mi-Fi routers as once-off purchases and not on contract.

Listen to the interview with Lebogang Mokubela