Telkom unveils WiMax offerings

By Damaria Senne for Telkom
Johannesburg, 20 Jun 2007

Fixed-line operator Telkom has introduced commercial WiMax products targeted at customers who do not have access to DSL products.

The launch makes Telkom the first local provider to offer WiMax products in SA. However, other broadband providers are racing to finalise their WiMax offerings, with a number engaged in trials or planning network roll-outs.

Telkom says Do Broadband Wireless, its WiMax product suite, complements its existing broadband footprint by providing high-speed Internet access to more people.

Customers who apply for DSL will be offered Do Broadband Wireless if they live in an area where DSL is not enabled and that falls within the coverage area of a WiMax base station, says Godfrey Ntoele, Telkom's acting chief sales and marketing officer.

Customers will only be offered WiMax as an alternative option if they reside within the WiMax footprint, he says.

Ntoele says WiMax products will initially be available in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. They will later be extended to Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth, East London, Polokwane, Middelburg, Pietermaritzburg, Nelspruit, Welkom and Empangeni, he says.

The race

Meanwhile, media reports indicate Vodacom will start building a WiMax network on behalf of wireless broadband provider iBurst, using its 2.5GHz spectrum. The mobile operator expects to offer commercial broadband and corporate services over this network before the end of the year, says MyADSL.

Last year Vodacom bought a 10% stake in iBurst, with a further option to acquire 15.5%. The transaction provided Vodacom access to WiMax spectrum, a scarce resource.

Neotel also expects to provide commercial WiMax services by the end of the year. However, the second national operator has yet to award its WiMax network roll-out contract.

The company is conducting a pilot before providing its commercial voice and data services to consumers.

Neotel MD Ajay Pandey would not commit to a time frame for commercial consumer services. However, the Neotel Web site said the second national operator expects to extend voice and data services to consumers from June.

Last month, MWeb announced it was conducting WiMax trials in Gauteng and Cape Town, with 1 000 active trial users. The MWeb trial aims to test its wireless network and determine how the technology performs in various environments, including underserviced areas, says CEO Rudi Jansen.