Two partnerships focused on the rollout of free Wi-Fi in Africa have each won an award at the World Wi-Fi Day Awards, as part of the Wireless Global Congress in England.

Free Wi-Fi provided by Liquid Telecom and the County Government of Nakuru in Kenya won the 'Best Wi-Fi Deployment to Connect the Unconnected in Rural Environment' award, while South Africa executive capital Tshwane and Project Isizwe were recognised as the 'Most Innovative City or Government Program to bridge the Digital Divide'.

The World Wi-Fi Day Awards recognises global success stories involving connectivity and the contribution made to global socio-economic development.

Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Mayor of City of Tshwane lauded the 2013 introduction of free Wi-Fi alongside non-profit organisation and implementation partner Project Isizwe. "Our free Wi-Fi project has radically undermined the adverse effects of unaffordable internet access by narrowing the hitherto glaring digital divide. We will continue to be a shining example of what it means to employ the use of technology to lead the way towards a South Africa that is democratic, inclusive, united and prosperous – ours will be the global Cyber Capital,"

Project Isizwe was shortlisted in the category for Best Wi-­Fi Deployment to Connect the Unconnected in Rural Environment, an award that Liquid Telecom and the County Government of Nakuru won for their Free Wi-Fi project - first rolled out in April 2015.

The Wi-Fi network covers a 10-kilometre radius from the CBD of Nakuru, with a capacity of 1Gbps. It is available in major streets, markets, transport terminus and stadia – as well as the university campuses. Data on the Project shows that an average of 30,000 unique visitors which is the equivalent of 10% of Nakuru's population log into the service every day. Tshwane's free-WiFi project on the other hand reached one million unique connections earlier this year.

In a previous interview with ITWeb Africa, Ramokgopa called on municipalities across Africa to implement free Wi-Fi because his city has shown that it works.

"The appetite to take a risk does not exist with others so we have derisked (sic) it because you can come to Tshwane and be sure that it works before you take it to your own municipality. Someone had to start, we are glad we have made the start and we are confident going into the future."