Free Wi-Fi in Cape Town's Company's Garden

As part of the project, some of the ancient trees have been stamped with a QR code which can be scanned with a smartphone to access additional information about the tree, the garden, directions to the garden, contact details for the garden's manager, Rory Phelan, and even the weather.

A collaboration between the city, Iziko Museums and Wi-Fi specialist Connected Space, has made this possible. Belinda Walker, the city's mayoral committee member for special projects, said this initiative is a test case for the provision of free Wi-Fi around Cape Town's central business district.

"Our goal is to make our city a place where everyone can access information and the benefits that come with it. We are very excited about bringing free Wi-Fi to a public space and giving those who visit the chance to enjoy the breath-taking surroundings and to have on-line access at the same time," said Walker.

Hotspot signs

Signs will inform visitors about the Wi-Fi zone hotspots and each active user will be allowed 100MB of data every day.

The garden was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 when South Africa provided a crucial stop on the spice route between Europe and Asia.

Phelan told of the many sailors who died of scurvy back then, even though they were on ships carrying cargoes of cloves, which contain Vitamin C.

Vitamin C intake prevents scurvy but sailors on those ships never realised they were sitting on huge amounts of it.

"Sailors were dying while they were sitting on a cargo full of Vitamin C," said Phelan.

Today the garden is known as the city's green heart and has become a major tourist attraction.

In addition to the scores of squirrels and pigeons that inhabit the garden, there are trees more than 300 years old, among them the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa, which was planted in 1652.

In all, 70 trees have been labelled and 33 will bear the QR code.

Source: The Times via I-Net Bridge