Neotel goes WiMax

By Damaria Senne for Neotel
Johannesburg, 22 May 2008

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) continues to grapple with its process to assign WiMax spectrum to new players. However, operators that already have spectrum have begun unveiling their WiMax solutions.

Neotel says it plans to launch its enterprise WiMax solutions in July. According to Stefano Mattiello, executive head of the enterprise group, Neotel's WiMax solutions are to be deployed as last mile access in areas where the second national operator already has a fibre network.

"We are in the roll-out phase of our enterprise broadband wireless network and have already established 22 sites," he says.

WiMax solutions will initially be available in the Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban metropolitan areas, with increased availability as Neotel continues to roll-out its fibre network, he says.

Solutions offered to customers are scalable, ranging from 2Mbps to 10Mbps, depending on customer need, he says.

Neotel previously noted that WiMax would not be its core offering, as there is greater focus on its fibre offering.

The second national operator is expected to spend about R11 billion on infrastructure over the next 10 years. It currently has a 12 000km national backhaul fibre network, as well as metro fibre networks.

However, Mattiello emphasises that WiMax does have strong benefits to offer broadband users, as it enables multi-play services on wireless networks (data, Internet and voice).

A further benefit of Neotel's WiMax offering is that it is portable and can be relocated easily when required, he says.

"WiMax allows us to provide our customers with the best possible solution to their communications needs, in the fastest possible installation times."

More gains

iBurst also plans to introduce its business WiMax solutions next week. However, iBurst marketing manager Callia Doucas would not disclose details of the offering, stating these would be divulged at the launch event, at the Saxon Hotel, next Tuesday.

WiMax is also gaining transaction internationally, with global network deployments and those in Africa speeding up.

Alcatel Lucent executive St'ephane Lecomte says the company has 24 WiMax clients globally. This is the largest client base of WiMax held by WiMax vendors, he says.

Clients include operators in SA, Libya, Angola and Malaysia. However, he would not provide the names of Alcatel Lucent's South African clients, or elaborate on deployment phases.