Unlocking future-proof services for Africa’s telcos
With voice revenues in terminal decline and future data revenue models uncertain, Africa's telcos have to expand their value-added services portfolios. "On-demand entertainment and infotainment present the next big opportunity for telco VAS business growth," says...
How to overcome SA’s connectivity challenges
The world of connectivity which surrounds South Africa is fraught with political charge, economic complexities and red tape longer than man can measure. There are challenges which trip it up and slow its expansion, and yet it is showing more momentum today than ever...
Workonline extends African access
As part of its commitment to assisting African networks to further develop their global footprint, Workonline Communications, a provider of wholesale IP transit and transport services based in sub-Saharan Africa, continues to grow its offering of access to the world's...
What the loss of Falcon 9 and Amos 6 mean for Africa
On 1 September 2016, international space exploration company SpaceX suffered a failure during the static test fire of the Falcon 9 rocket. Designed to transport satellites, Falcon 9 was scheduled to haul the AMOS-6 satellite into geostationary orbit. The rocket...
Push to make 0800 numbers toll-free might backfire
While a new government regulation looks to make 0800 numbers free of cost for the caller, regardless of the network they use, high interconnect rates being proposed by some networks might actually push businesses away from toll-free numbers, and put the end user at a...
Are we running out of wireless bandwidth?
When you work for one of the world's biggest and best technology companies, you're always on call to provide tech support, writes Martin Walshaw, senior engineer at F5 Networks. I remember fixing a family member's Wi-Fi connection that had slowed to a crawl. "Maybe...
Partnerships needed to realise digitisation’s true potential
The evolving demands of the ever-discerning consumer continue to give impetus to the private and public sector to offer customised digitisation solutions that meet their needs. This is according to David Mphelo, GM: public sector at MTN Business, addressing delegates...
Platforms can turn telcos into kings again
In conversations about telecommunications, moods can easily turn sour, writes Simon Carpenter, chief customer officer at SAP Africa. The golden age of the first mobile networks have faded somewhat. Data, once seen as a sideline and a potential revenue channel, has...
VoIP is finally ready for mainstream business
South Africa's ICT industry has long talked up the benefits of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as an alternative to traditional mobile and fixed-line telephony, but it is only now that a wide rollout of last-kilometre fibre has made it a truly compelling option...
iConnect launches Business WiFi Calling
iConnect Voice subscribers can now receive even more value on their VoIP service by making use of iConnect's Business WiFi Calling, which officially launches this month. WiFi Calling enables users to make and receive calls over any data network, using their mobile...
Fujitsu builds low power-consumption 5G tech
Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. today announced that it has built a prototype wireless unit incorporating inter-subarray coding technology, which makes it possible to achieve high-speed transmissions, in excess of 10Gbps, for 5G mobile wireless base stations and access...
Nokia sets the pace for 5G journey
Nokia is to launch a set of services that will enable operators to leverage the benefits of 5G technology in order to realize their individual business goals in the most effective way. Nokia 5G Acceleration Services will help operators develop a plan for their...