Student Freedom Initiative announces Cisco’s deployment of wireless 5G service at Claflin University

Orangeburg, United States – Student Freedom Initiative (“SFI”) and Cisco announced wireless 5G internet service deployment at Claflin University.

This partnership will provide Claflin’s students, teachers, administrators and staff members with reliable connection to the internet. These services will allow this institution of higher education to provide a more modern educational experience for its students, while also supporting greater administrative efficiency.

“It is critical – now more than ever that we ensure all students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have dependable high-speed internet if they are to compete in our 21st-century digital economy,” says Robert F. Smith, founder and board chairman of Student Freedom Initiative, and founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. “I am grateful for Cisco’s continued dedication to providing resources in order to expand the available opportunities for HBCU students. They continue to be an essential partner in our fight for racial justice.”

“Closing the digital divide is a necessary step in closing the racial wealth gap,” says Mark Brown, executive director of Student Freedom Initiative. “Students need the tools and resources to excel in their education and beyond. Deploying 5G service across Claflin’s campus will further engage students with their studies and creates a model to create equitable opportunities for HBCU students.”

Thanks to a generous grant and infrastructure provided by Cisco, SFI will help to coordinate the installation of hardware, software, and customer premise equipment to initiate this service. The new 5G network will also serve the surrounding businesses, government facilities and members of the community. With 82% of HBCUs residing in broadband deserts, this pilot program will provide SFI and Cisco with valuable feedback on improving and expanding this initiative to other HBCUs and the surrounding communities.

“Expanding 5G wireless service is an important step in making sure that students at HBCUs have the necessary resources for a high-quality education,” says Saidah Grayson Dill, vice president and deputy general counsel at Cisco. “This innovative solution will allow us to connect many of the households in the region that currently do not have access to the internet, and will inform our best practices as we expand this program to other HBCUs.”

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