broadband
broadband
Another Broadband for Africa in 2012
France Telecom says a fibre-optic cable from France to South Africa will go online in the second half of 2012, bringing high-speed internet links to a host of west African countries.
In a press statement, France Telecom, which heads the 17-member consortium running the project, says the 17 000km underwater Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) cable was originally due to become operational in early 2012.
The cable runs from Cape Town along the west coast of Africa, through Portugal and to France, connecting 23 countries en route including Mauritania, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Landlocked Mali and Niger will be connected via overland cable.
To read the article titled, “ACE Africa broadband cable to go online,” click here.Source:News24NGO Calls for Cheaper Broadband
The Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) says that if the government is serious about media freedom and access to news for all income groups, it should make sure everyone has access to affordable broadband.
MMA director, William Bird, points out that access to affordable broadband will ensure genuine diversity and involvement and it will force media whose models do not cater for the digital environment to evolve, adding that, “They will have to engage and cater for this growing audience which will have equal access."
His comments come as the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), established to promote media diversity in SA, in a statement to commemorate the Press Freedom Day, criticised the lack of transformation in the print media sector.
To read the article titled, “Cheap broadband paramount to media freedom,” click here.Source:Business DayPledge to Provide Broadband Access
Minister of Communications, Roy Padayachie, says the government's pledge to provide broadband access for all South Africans will be like a blood transfusion into the economy.
The Department of Communications recently set itself the ambitious target of creating a million jobs in the information and communication technology sector by 2020, along with broadband access for all.
Padayachie says that the department wants to provide broadband to the homes of all South Africans, adding that a minimum connection speed of 1Mbps is desirable.
To read the article, “Broadband will be a shot in arm for SA,” click here.Source:SowetanVodacom Slashes Broadband Prices
Mobile operator, Vodacom, has slashed its broadband standard data prices by up to 43 percent, a move that will see customers pay as little as 14c a megabyte.
Vodacom CEO, Pieter Uys, points out that, "We hope these price reductions will contribute to making the internet more affordable and give our customers an enhanced connected experience."
The company further says that in addition to the savings, all existing and new Vodacom contract customers will be given another allocation of the same size as the subscribed data bundle to use anytime between midnight and 5am.
"This service, called Night Owl, previously only on promotion, is now available as standard to all Vodacom contract subscribers," explains Uys.
To read the article titled, “Vodacom slashes charges in price war,” click here.Source:Business DayNew Broadband Packages for Cell C
Cell C is introducing new 10 gigabytes and 20 gigabytes broadband packages at rates as low as 3c/megabyte as South Africa’s broadband price war gathers in intensity.
From 1 August, the company will introduce a 10GB/month package, including a 7.2Mbit/s MyZone router or 21.6Mbit/s USB modem, for R499/month on contract for 12 months or R4 999 once-off on prepaid.
The new products come just weeks after 8ta, Telkom’s mobile operator, introduced a special offer of 10 gigabytes of data for R199/month, excluding modem.
Prior to Cell C's announcement, Vodacom also cut the prices of its Broadband Standard bundle products.
To read the article titled, “Cell C steps up broadband war with new products,” click here.Source:TECHCENTRALVodacom Launches High Speed Network
Mobile operator, Vodacom, has unveiled its new double-speed 43.2Mbps network in South Africa.
Vodacom’s executive head of media relations, Richard Boorman, points out that this is something that the company has been working on for a while and it is double the speed of what Cell C called 4G.
Boorman states that more than 1 000 base stations in metropolitan areas across the country have been enabled with this new SuperMobile technology, and this will increase to 2 000 base stations during May.
To read the article titled, “Vodacom launches high-speed network,” click here.Source:News24Devices to Enable Internet Access Via TV
MTN and Vodacom have launched two competing devices that are aimed at bringing affordable Internet access to consumers, while at the same time growing their data revenues.
General consumer of marketing at MTN, Mapula Bodibe, points out that, “Through the launch of our InternetOnTV device, we aim to increase Internet penetration among previously disadvantaged and unconnected communities in South Africa."
In the same vein, Vodacom commercial director, Romeo Kumalo, says the WebBox is a Vodafone innovation developed for customers in emerging markets where technology and cost barriers exclude many from enjoying affordable and easy Internet access.
To read the article titled, “Internet access via TV,” click here.Source:Business DaySatellite to Boost Internet Connectivity in Africa
The R250 million satellite designed for the African market will be launched on 29 March 2011 with promises of providing more bandwidth to the continent.
The satellite, New Dawn, which is partly owned by former Department of Communications director-general, Andile Ngcaba’s Convergence Partners, will sit 36 000 kilometers above Africa and will deliver telephony, broadband Internet access and media content to most of the continent for at least 15 years.
The satellite is expected to address the capacity backlog faced by African wireless telecom operators, broadband service providers, corporate network service providers and pay-TV television operators.
To read the article titled, “Satellite to boost web connectivity in Africa,” click here.Source:Business DayICASA Urged to Support Mobile Broadband Services
Industry lobby group Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has called on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to support mobile broadband services in South Africa by making key decisions on mobile spectrum allocation and taxation policy.
According to a report by analyst firm Analysys Mason, which was commissioned by the GSMA, spectrum allocation and the levying of additional taxes on mobile services are the major barriers to wider mobile broadband deployment and the launch of Long-Term Evolution, the next generation broadband technology in the country.
The report forecasts that mobile broadband and related industries will generate 1.8 percent of South Africa's gross domestic product and as many as 28 000 jobs by 2015. However, the report says this can only be possible if roadblocks to mobile broadband deployment are removed.
To read the article titled, “Broadband: Urgent intervention needed,” click here.Source:Finance24New Broadband Network for SA
Cell C, Internet Solutions and Convergence Partners are developing a new broadband network that will provide world-class broadband connectivity, according to FibreCo Telecommunications.
In a press statement, spokesperson, Suzanne Jefferies, states that the network will be an open-access long-haul terrestrial fibre optic broadband network, which would help with the national transmission infrastructure.
Jefferies says that, "The initial phase will focus on rolling out a 4 500 km redundant core ring, linking Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban to international cable landing stations within two years."
To read the article titled, “New broadband network coming,” click here.
Source:Times Live
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