The celebration marks the final phase of Vodacoms three-phase base station project in the Cape, following the launch of the Kheis, Arkoep, Wolwekop, Kharkams and Namaqua Game Lodge base stations.

Dot Field, chief communications officer of Vodacom, explains Vodacoms motivation in connecting the road from the Cape to Namibia: Vredendal, Springbok and Middelpos serve as a base from where trips to Namaqualand, West Coast and the Cederberg mountains are often undertaken. With ubiquitous road coverage, farmers and other residents in remote areas will now have easy access to emergency and other services.

Field emphasises that the base stations will not only bring coverage along the N7, additionally having cellphone connection can play a significant part in promoting bottom-up socio-economic development, while simultaneously stimulating small businesses and entrepreneurship.

Vodacom continually invests in network development to improve coverage for its customers, concludes Field. Besides providing a point of contact and enabling users to participate in the economic system, these communities along the N7 can now also have more contact with their family, friends and business partners as a result of mobile phones.