South Africa

Vodacom throttles BlackBerry users

Vodacom, the pan-African subsidiary of Vodafone, is reducing connection speeds for some of its BlackBerry users in South Africa “from 3G to 2G levels”. The company said that it studied the usage patterns of its customers to better understand the causes of congestion at peak times and found that more than 95 per cent of BlackBerry data usage was attributable to less than 5 per cent of users.

WiMAX operator Screamer raided in spectrum usage controversy

South African WiMAX provider Screamer Telecoms has had its offices raided and equipment confiscated by state communications regulator ICASA. The raid, which took place over the weekend, reportedly saw the seizure of WiMAX equipment from a number of the carrier’s sites, as well as a raid on the company’s offices in Centurion, Pretoria. ICASA said that the necessary police warrants had been used during the seizures. Screamer CEO Gavin Hart has, however, denied that any such raid took place and that the company is operating as usual.

MTN South Africa planning LTE network

MTN South Africa is rolling out a pilot LTE network in Gauteng, the company’s MD, Karel Pienaar, has told South African tech site TechCentral.

Vodacom South Africa launches HSPA+ network

South Africa’s biggest carrier, Vodacom, has announced the launch of its HSPA+ network. Following the upgrade of 1,000 base stations in the country’s major cities, the carrier is now offering speeds of up to 43.2Mbps and says that this latest development clears the path for 86.4Mbps. According to Vodacom, a further 1,000 3G towers will be added to the telco’s current crop of 4,200 this financial year.

South African regulator reintroduces controversial spectrum allocation requirements

South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) has reintroduced a controversial requirement that companies applying for spectrum must be 30 per cent owned by historically disadvantaged shareholders (HDI). With the country’s second spectrum auction planned for an as-yet unspecified time this year, players such as MTN and Vodacom could find themselves excluded from bidding for access in the 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz bands which form a key component in both telcos next-generation, LTE network strategies.

West African Cable System to land next week

The construction phase of the West African Cable System (WACS) is due for completion early in April, when the cable will reach its final destination point at Yzerfontein in South Africa. The cable was slated to be ready for commercial use by the third quarter of this year, but that target has now been pushed back to early 2012.

Cell C announces 42Mbps HSPA+ with LTE to come

South Africa’s third mobile carrier, Cell C, has announced that it will begin rolling out its 42Mbps HSPA+ service in early April. Following through on plans that were announced in October 2010, the operator is adopting a phased rollout strategy, beginning with Port Elizabeth, where the high speed service will use ZTE modems.

SA’s Broadband Infraco in turmoil as CEO quits

The sudden departure of Broadband Infraco CEO Dave Smith on Friday last has left the South African stated-owned network infrastructure company’s future in doubt. Smith’s resignation comes just three months after the company launched its first commercial services.

MTN to launch community mhealth services

South African mobile operator MTN has tapped local health care provider Sanlam Health, part of Sanlam Group, to launch mhealth applications by the end of the first quarter. The services to be rolled out will include community and clinical health data, delivery of healthcare information to practitioners, researchers and patients as well as real-time monitoring of patient vital signs and provisioning of care.

Vodacom sells out of South African WiMAX player iBurst

Vodacom group has sold its remaining 24.9 per cent stake in WiMAX service provider WBS, which operates under the iBurst brand.Vodacom intends to bid for 2.6GHz and 3.5Ghz spectrum, when it is made available, but the South African regulator specified that current 2.6Ghz spectrum holders such as WBS and therefore Vodacom may not qualify.

South Africa fights over spectrum

Far-reaching regulatory changes look set to heat up broadband competition in South Africa. How far this will improve WiMAX prospects remains less certain, particularly as the debate about how to allocate 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz licences is proving to be divisive and prolonged. Yet South Africa’s telecom landscape is undergoing seismic change.

MTN buys Verizon South Africa

South African operator MTN said this week that it has entered into an agreement with Verizon Business, to acquire the US carrier’s South African operation, Verizon Business South Africa. MTN said the transaction is in line with its strategy to provide integrated communications in all of its markets and follows similar acquisitions by MTN subsidiaries […]

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