Broadband network a priority

Johannesburg, 27 Feb 2009

Ericsson has been chosen as Johannesburg City`s service provider for its Joburg Network Broadband Project (JNBP).

Speaking at the State of the City address yesterday, Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo said the appointment of a partner for the citywide roll-out of broadband network would ensure the completion of the broadband project is prioritised.

The city`s selection of Ericsson follows a lengthy tender process, which required short-listed candidates to test their proposed networks. The JBNP is "self-funding" and will have "no additional cost to ratepayers" - which means the operational costs for the project will come entirely from Ericsson.

The city says the broadband network will be rolled out over five years across the city. The first phase will officially begin on 1 April, with audits of current broadband infrastructure across various regions in the city. This process is scheduled to take six weeks - and the city is confident it will meet this deadline and says it has unofficially begun with the audit process. It also adds the audit will determine which regions will benefit from the network first.

We regard access to broadband as a key driver of economic growth.
Parks Tau, member, mayoral committee

Ericsson states it will build a citywide network with a capacity of 1.2TB. It will work on an Ethernet, IP-based technology - which it says will allow for the network`s expansion and help maintain the quality of the infrastructure over the years.

The city stated the company was awarded the R1 billion tender for "its ability to supply an end-to-end solution, extensive experience in delivering similar networks around the world, a strong local presence and commitment to empowerment and skills transfer".

The JBNP is the municipal initiative to create a citywide broadband network to improve service delivery and stimulate economic development through the reduction of the cost of telecommunications. The city says the network will result in citywide capacity for tele-working, video conferencing, video streaming, Internet access and the creation of WiFi hotspots.

Parks Tau, a member of the mayoral committee for finance and development, says: "We regard access to broadband as a key driver of economic growth. This is as essential as the provision of water and electricity and will also help improve response times to crime and emergencies because the city`s closed circuit will be linked."

Reality bites

Masondo, in his address, stated economic development will be achieved through key programmes. Highlighting the JBNP and Joburg Connect, he stated the completion of these projects will go a long way in helping the city achieve its development objectives.

Plans for the city are in line with provincial and national government plans, he said. "The work we are doing will reinforce the efforts undertaken in different spheres of government."

He noted, however, that the economic crisis is a reality for the city, saying: "There will be job losses, we expect that to happen. And we know that ordinary people will be impacted by this. The current economic climate also means that government battles to meet its spending commitments."

Masondo, reinforcing what Gauteng premier Paul Mashatile stated in his State of the Province address, said the solution lies in public-private partnerships and increased investment in infrastructure projects.

"We are making progress and we are confident in the way we work, that - in our partnerships - we can build successes which lay a basis for us to perform better," he said.

Tech upgrades

Joburg Connect will also benefit from the prioritising of technology. Masondo stated the technology for the centre is due for an upgrade. "The technology of the call centre needs upgrading. The mayoral committee has taken a decision to upgrade what is in place and install a new technology that will adequately address the needs of the citizens and service delivery."

Joburg Connect is the city`s call centre, which aimed at improving customer service by logging all customer queries and complaints regarding services offered by the city.

Masondo added the city is looking at implementing a new telephony system, which will assist with query differentiation, proper management and production of queries matched with feedback channels to customers.

Tau declined to state how much this upgrade will cost the city, saying the mayoral committee is in the middle of a budget process for the centre and would only be able to announce the budget once the process is complete.

Tau added that the upgrade will comprise of the changing of the centre`s telephony systems and the improvement of their customer service systems through a "self-based customer system".

"We hope to speed up our customer system so that it will integrate with the new telephony system and we hope to do this in the next year or two," he said.

Masondo also stated the city is on track to fulfil its requirements for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, saying: "As a city, we are constantly receiving favourable feedback from Fifa, the Local Organising Committee and national government on our state of readiness."

Listing the completion of the redevelopment of the Orlando Stadium, progress made on Soccer City and the development of Nasrec for the hosting of the 2010 international broadcast centre, Masondo said the city`s progress is "visible".