AdNotes expands community ambassador program to boost jobs and digital access

South African Internet Service Provider (ISP) AdNotes is expanding a program that recruits local community members to expand broadband access and create jobs.

Four newly inducted AdNotes Ambassadors pose beside the brand kiosk gifted to them at the AdNotes Ambassador launch – a first step towards creating paid community roles and tackling youth unemployment.

AdNotes, a prominent Internet Service Provider (ISP) in South Africa, has launched an expanded version of its Ambassador Program, as part of a national effort to address high unemployment, particularly among youth in underserved areas. Building upon previous initiatives, the program aims to foster economic inclusion and skills development by training community members to expand digital connectivity.

An Internet Service Provider, or ISP, is a company that gives access to the internet to individuals or other businesses. AdNotes is also a Wireless ISP (WISP), which means it uses wireless technology like radio waves to deliver internet, often a useful solution in areas lacking extensive physical cable infrastructure. This diagram illustrates a simple wireless setup from provider to customer.

South Africa continues to face high unemployment rates, especially in rural areas and townships. This initiative empowers selected individuals, known as AdNotes Ambassadors, to work directly within their communities. Their responsibilities include conducting outreach and awareness campaigns, promoting public hotspots, and assisting with onboarding households to broadband services. In this context, Broadband refers to a high-speed internet connection capable of transmitting large amounts of data at high speeds. A public location that provides internet access over a wireless network is a hotspot. Onboarding is the process of helping new users get set up and familiar with a service. This diagram shows how multiple users in a public space can connect to the internet through a single hotspot.

“This programme is more than just connectivity – it's about putting power in the hands of our communities to create their own economic futures,” said Sphumelele Ndlovu, COO at AdNotes. “By turning passionate locals into paid AdNotes Ambassadors, we're tackling unemployment head-on, building digital skills and generating real income in areas where opportunities have been scarce. Participants can make a meaningful impact while earning a dignified living that supports their families and inspires others.”

The Ambassador Program builds on AdNotes' existing efforts to empower Local Community Network Operators (LCNOs). LCNOs are small, locally-based entities that own and operate community networks, often using their own infrastructure and creating local jobs. The current expansion is supported by partners, including the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Ambassadors operate with flexible schedules and earn income through a performance-based structure linked to their contributions. The training they receive covers digital tools, entrepreneurship, customer engagement, and 4IR technologies. The "4IR" or Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to a major industrial shift combining physical, digital, and biological spheres through technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things. Ambassadors also contribute to deploying affordable broadband and public WiFi hotspots.

AdNotes has set a national target of recruiting and supporting 1,000 Ambassadors to connect 200,000 households with reliable broadband.

This diagram outlines how a home typically connects to a broadband provider, allowing all the devices in that home to access high-speed internet. The program is currently scaling across South Africa, with targeted launches starting in high-need areas like Umsinga. The initiative supports the goals of South Africa's National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030, which includes priorities for job creation and poverty reduction, and is aligned with SA Connect broadband objectives. SA Connect is the country's national broadband policy and strategy, with a long-term goal of providing universal broadband access for all South Africans. The company is actively inviting interested individuals to apply and is open to partnerships to further expand the model and promote digital inclusion across the country.