Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      Vodacom’s Maziv deal gets makeover ahead of crucial hearing

      18 July 2025

      Takealot taps Mr D to deliver toys, pet food and future growth

      18 July 2025

      Cut electricity prices for data centres: Andile Ngcaba

      18 July 2025

      ‘Oh, Ani!’: Elon’s edgy bot stirs ethical storm

      18 July 2025

      Trump U-turn on Nvidia spurs talk of grand bargain with China

      18 July 2025
    • World

      Grok 4 arrives with bold claims and fresh controversy

      10 July 2025

      Samsung’s bet on folding phones faces major test

      10 July 2025

      Bitcoin pushes higher into record territory

      10 July 2025

      OpenAI to launch web browser in direct challenge to Google Chrome

      10 July 2025

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025
    • In-depth

      The 1940s visionary who imagined the Information Age

      14 July 2025

      MultiChoice is working on a wholesale overhaul of DStv

      10 July 2025

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | Samsung unveils significant new safety feature for Galaxy A-series phones

      16 July 2025

      TCS+ | MVNX on the opportunities in South Africa’s booming MVNO market

      11 July 2025

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025
    • Opinion

      A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

      15 July 2025

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » News » Fibre speeds without the fibre

    Fibre speeds without the fibre

    By Editor28 November 2011
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp
    Michael Cothill

    Telecommunications operators across the developed world are investing billions of dollars in fibre-to-the-home projects to deliver next-generation services such as Internet television and video-on-demand products. But the costs associated with fibre roll-outs in developing countries like SA is often seen as prohibitive.

    Now, one company, Nasdaq-listed Globecomm, believes developing markets can get fibre-equivalent broadband speeds using wireless technology, in the process potentially obviating the need for regulatory interventions like local-loop unbundling, where rival operators are given access to fixed-line incumbents’ access networks into people’s homes. And the company is about to build its first network in Africa — in the West African nation of Sierra Leone — after a successful implementation of the technology in the Bahamas.

    Michael Cothill, a senior consultant for telecommunications business development at Globecomm, says the problem in many emerging economies is that rivals to incumbent operators have no way of accessing the existing “last mile” cable infrastructure and so have to find alternative and affordable methods of providing high-speed services to end users.

    The company believes it has found a way: using frequencies employed by Ka- and Ku-band satellites to deliver 100Mbit/s Internet access into people’s homes, but doing so terrestrially.

    The company uses frequency in the 12GHz and 42GHz bands to offer terrestrial wireless broadband products. Cothill says research by the US Federal Communications Commission has demonstrated that the technology does not interfere with satellite broadcasters, provided certain guidelines are followed.

    The 12GHz solution provides coverage of between 8km and 12km from a base station using line-of-sight equipment and offers standard- and high-definition video using the DVB-S technology typically used by satellite-based pay-TV operators; the 42GHz solution is better suited for shorter-range options.

    The return path — the connection from the consumer back to the service provider — is created using WiMax technology, third-generation cellular networks or fixed-line digital subscriber lines.

    “This technology … allows operators to … deliver the same performance as fibre,” Cothill says. “Fibre can’t get to the home cost effectively, but we can do it using wireless technology and our prices are 25% of fibre.”

    He says operators can amortise the costs of a 100Mbit/s network over 24 months with average revenue per user of between US$120 and $160.

    Globecomm has already had preliminary discussions with the Independent Communications of Authority about launching a test network in SA to demonstrate the technology.  — Duncan McLeod, TechCentral

    • Subscribe to our free daily newsletter
    • Follow us on Twitter or on Google+ or on Facebook
    • Visit our sister website, SportsCentral (still in beta)


    Globecomm Icasa Michael Cothill
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleNew Vodacom MD awarded R6,7m in options
    Next Article Gadgets galore at COP17 climate conference

    Related Posts

    EFF vows to stop Starlink from launching in South Africa

    11 July 2025

    Icasa publishes new draft regulations for digital TV

    8 July 2025

    Operators to decide 2G/3G shutdown timeline

    2 July 2025
    Company News

    Vertiv to acquire custom rack solutions manufacturer

    18 July 2025

    SA businesses embrace gen AI – but strategy and skills are lagging

    17 July 2025

    Ransomware in South Africa: the human factor behind the growing crisis

    16 July 2025
    Opinion

    A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

    15 July 2025

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.