Cape Town – Internet Service Provider MWeb began trials for a WiMAX network in mid-May, and according to the reports, so far so good.
MWeb was granted a test license by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to trial the connectivity technology in South Africa, having successfully set up a fixed WiMAX network in Namibia in February this year. Namibia became the second country in Africa to boast a certified WiMAX network, following in Mozambique’s footsteps. Mozambique installed a metropolitan WiMAX network in April last year.
WiMAX is able to provide wireless data at rates of up to 70Mbps over distances of up to 50 km. Although the potential high speeds are impressive, it is likely that the actual data transfer rate will be much lower, especially initially, and the distance range lower as well. WiMAX is often referred to as a last-mile access technology, and where networks are set up, it offers an alternative means of broadband access to cable, ADSL and wireless options such as 3G.
MWeb have erected eight base stations, of which seven are fully operational so far. The sites chosen for the trials were Foreshore, N1 City and Plumstead in Cape Town, and Randburg, Sandton City, Soweto, Boksburg and Victory Park in Johannesburg. It has not been confirmed when the Victory Park station will go live. The trials in Cape Town have been successful to date, with 62 trialists, including both home and business Internet users, making use of the WiMAX connectivity. The trials in Johannesburg have been delayed due to an interference problem which has yet to be resolved. 81 subscribers have been registered for the trials.
MWeb have applied for a license to provide commercial broadband services using WiMAX technology. Fixed-line monolith Telkom, their new rival Neotel, and ISPs Sentech and iBurst are already licensed to do so, but have yet to launch commercial packages. Telkom reportedly began customer trials in March, and have brought in Israel’s Alvarion company, responsible for rolling out many WiMAX networks around the world, to assist with their own roll out.
WiMAX is often incorrectly confused with Wi-Fi. While Wi-Fi is a technology that provides short-range (measurable in metres) wireless access to a network which may or may not be connected to the Internet, WiMAX provides access to the Internet across much greater distances.
Once rolled out, WiMAX will provide another connectivity option in South Africa, stirring up further competition in the broadband arena. Because it does not require cables to be laid, it may be especially of use as a last-mile access technology in parts of the country which are as yet, unconnected. In light of Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburi’s recent announcement urging the speeding up of the spread of broadband connectivity around the country, WiMAX seems set to make some progress towards this.
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