Better to wait for JBNP

By Christelle du Toit for Ericsson
Johannesburg, 30 Oct 2007

Bidders for the half a billion rand Joburg Broadband Network Project (JBNP) should benefit in the long run from the delays in moving forward with the project.

This is the view of Arthur Linke, new accounts senior sales manager for Ericsson South Africa, one of the short-listed bidders for the lucrative contract.

Last week, ITWeb reported that short-listed bidders for the project have been left in the dark as to when and where they are to deploy demo networks to illustrate their capabilities.

However, Linke says: "Delays on the city`s side have bought the candidates time.

"Progress has been a bit slow so far considering that the deadline of 2010 isn`t moving, but that could be expected with such a large, complex undertaking. The city needs to ensure it is choosing the right technologies and the partner that can deploy them."

Linke says a meeting has been called for tomorrow with the short-listed bidders and the city authorities to map out the way forward. Other bidders did not want to comment on this, saying they preferred to wait and see what came out of the meeting.

Monique Griffith, director for sector support for the city of Johannesburg`s economic development unit, also did not want to comment, saying: "I have other things to deal with right now."

However, Linke sees the meeting as a positive development: "Any [bidders] that have problems deploying after the delays should be suspect as to whether they can in fact deliver the project."