Licensing issues prevent MWeb from providing WiMax to areas in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
This is according to Eugene van der Westhuizen, GM of new business projects at MWeb, speaking at ITWeb`s Broadband and Wireless conference, in Johannesburg, this week.
Since receiving a WiMax trial licence in January, MWeb has successfully set up three sites in Cape Town and five in Johannesburg, he explained.
"From a basis of not knowing anything about WiMax, we managed a full roll-out in only a few months," said Van der Westhuizen.
The trial areas in Johannesburg include Randburg, Sandton City, Soweto, Boksburg and Midrand. There is strong latent demand for bandwidth in Soweto, he added.
WiMax antennas were installed in 900 trial customers` homes, while 100 were self-installed (non-mounted, desktop antennas).
"WiMax is ideal for rapid deployment," explained Van der Westhuizen. "We received excellent feedback from our trial customers."
However, MWeb is waiting for its WiMax frequency spectrum licence, from the Independent Communications Authority of SA, in order to provide its WiMax services to the public.
"Once we receive this licence, we will be ready to provide services to the public in about five to six months," he stated.
Also speaking at the conference, Rosey Sekese, deputy director general of ICT infrastructure development at the Department of Communications, said WiMax is especially valuable for rural connectivity because of its cost-effectiveness.
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