On 20 August 2025, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) captivated the University of Limpopo campus in Mankweng with a demonstration of its 5G Testbed and Television White Space (TVWS) technologies at a public lecture and stakeholder engagement session on "South African Public Relations with Science – Advancing Science Communication for a Knowledge Society." While the event’s theme centred on water, CSIR’s contribution spotlighted an equally critical enabler of development: next-generation digital connectivity.

Through a hands-on exhibition at the event, candidate researchers Koketso Makaleng and Morebodi Motaung from the NextGen Enterprises and Institutions cluster within the CSIR did not just talk innovation; they made innovation tangible, immersive and community-focused.

For many communities across Limpopo, fast, reliable internet remains a distant dream. The digital divide, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, restricts access to education, health, financial services and entrepreneurship. The CSIR's display of 5G and TVWS technologies emphasised that research must meet real-world needs, and innovation must reach the margins.

About CSIR-showcased technologies:

The 5G Testbed demonstration illustrated how ultra-fast, low-latency networks could power everything from remote healthcare and precision agriculture to smart water systems. The testbed afforded participants, from students to local government officials, a rare hands-on glimpse into the future of connectivity.

The TVWS demonstration highlighted that repurposing unused spectrum in the TV broadcast bands allows for affordable, long-range internet access in areas where laying fibre is costly or impossible. For rural Limpopo, this is not just innovation; it is lifeline infrastructure.

CSIR’s presence at the lecture extended far beyond technology demos. It marked a strategic milestone in South Africa’s research, development and innovation (RD&I) mission, where cutting-edge research serves the real needs of people, especially those historically excluded from technological advances.

“Connectivity isn’t a luxury; it’s foundational for inclusive development,” said Makaleng. “Our 5G and TVWS projects are examples of how South African RD&I can lead in delivering equitable digital access.”

Sharing the same sentiments, Motaung highlighted, "Our 5G innovation is not just about speed, it is about connecting every South African to the future.”

Furthermore, the CSIR’s exhibition also acted as a magnet for student engagement. Attendees from the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Engineering and Information and Communication Technology at University of Limpopo gathered around the exhibits, asking technical questions and exploring internship and research opportunities.

The University of Limpopo and the CSIR have an existing partnership focused on remote sensing, digital innovation and RD&I for rural development. This event brought that partnership to life, sparking new conversations about co-developing pilot sites in Limpopo for TVWS-based connectivity projects.

The technologies presented are not just for display, they are deployable. Use cases include:

• Connected schools and clinics: TVWS can power reliable internet in rural schools and health facilities, enabling e-learning and telemedicine; and
• Youth innovation hubs: Leveraging broadband connectivity to incubate local innovation, coding clubs and digital entrepreneurship.

These institutions are exploring potential pilot deployments of TVWS and 5G-enabled services in nearby communities, integrating student researchers, community leaders, and tech partners.

This approach reflects CSIR’s broader RD&I strategy: to develop technology in world-class labs and deliver it where it matters most, in the lives of South Africans.

Additionally, the CSIR’s exhibition of 5G and TVWS at the University of Limpopo’s public lecture was not just a technical showcase; it was a demonstration of purpose. It affirmed that RD&I must not only push boundaries, but also close gaps. By bringing future-ready connectivity to a rural university platform, the CSIR is helping ensure that Limpopo and regions like it are not left behind in the fourth industrial revolution.

As South Africa moves toward a knowledge-based economy, initiatives like this prove one thing clearly: when research meets people, innovation becomes transformation.