TechCentralTechCentral
    Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentral TechCentral
    NEWSLETTER
    • News

      Broadcom agrees to buy VMware for $61-billion

      26 May 2022

      The cost for South Africa to quit its coal habit: R4-trillion – study

      26 May 2022

      Apple is feeling the smartphone industry chill

      26 May 2022

      Nvidia was to be the next trillion-dollar tech stock – no more

      26 May 2022

      Reunert would consider buying EOH: ‘We’d be foolish not to’

      25 May 2022
    • World

      Musk pledges more equity to fund Twitter deal

      26 May 2022

      Sony looks beyond the console to PC and mobile gaming

      26 May 2022

      Andreessen Horowitz raises world’s largest crypto fund

      26 May 2022

      Central African Republic’s crypto hub plan has World Bank vexed

      25 May 2022

      Big Tech’s latest dive snuffs out hopes the worst is over

      25 May 2022
    • In-depth

      Bernie Fanaroff – the scientist who put African astronomy on the map

      23 May 2022

      Chip giant ASML places big bets on a tiny future

      20 May 2022

      Elon Musk is becoming like Henry Ford – and that’s not a good thing

      17 May 2022

      Stablecoins wend wobbly way into the unknown

      17 May 2022

      The standard model of particle physics may be broken

      11 May 2022
    • Podcasts

      Spectrum auction opens up big growth opportunities – Ruckus Networks

      26 May 2022

      Everything PC S01E03 – ‘The story of Intel – part 1’

      25 May 2022

      The rewarding and lucrative careers to be had in infosec

      23 May 2022

      Dean Broadley on why product design at Yoco is an evolving art

      18 May 2022

      Everything PC S01E02 – ‘AMD: Ryzen from the dead – part 2’

      17 May 2022
    • Opinion

      A proposed solution to crypto’s stablecoin problem

      19 May 2022

      From spectrum to roads, why fixing SA’s problems is an uphill battle

      19 April 2022

      How AI is being deployed in the fight against cybercriminals

      8 April 2022

      Cash is still king … but not for much longer

      31 March 2022

      Icasa on the role of TV white spaces and dynamic spectrum access

      31 March 2022
    • Company Hubs
      • 1-grid
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Amplitude
      • Atvance Intellect
      • Axiz
      • BOATech
      • CallMiner
      • Digital Generation
      • E4
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • IBM
      • Kyocera Document Solutions
      • Microsoft
      • Nutanix
      • One Trust
      • Pinnacle
      • Skybox Security
      • SkyWire
      • Tarsus on Demand
      • Videri Digital
      • Zendesk
    • Sections
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud computing
      • Consumer electronics
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Energy
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Motoring and transport
      • Public sector
      • Science
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home»News»Wi-Fi calling in SA to go mainstream

    Wi-Fi calling in SA to go mainstream

    News By Agency Staff18 June 2015
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email

    call-640

    Wi-Fi calling will soon become a natural part of South African networks once they get over their fear of the technology, says a local provider.

    “I think with time they will. What I’ve noticed locally is that as South Africans we are very cautious of change and undertake smaller roll-outs to test technology solutions to see if they work before we make huge invests in them,” said Michael Fletcher, sales director sub-Saharan Africa at Ruckus Wireless.

    Wi-Fi has long been seen as a high-speed alternative to mobile data networks, but despite widespread adoption on small scales, the technology faces resistance from mobile network operators.

    Wi-Fi is regarded as ideal for only short range communication and the spectrum is unlicensed — a key concern for large network operators.

    Despite this, new technologies are causing operators to take a second look at Wi-Fi technology, especially in high traffic areas where it is difficult for companies to cope.

    “Wi-Fi has proven to be a complementary solution for mobile operators in their effort to improve their service delivery to their customers and Wi-Fi calling is the next step,” said Fletcher.

    Ruckus has demonstrated a number of key technologies that makes Wi-Fi viable, especially as regulatory delays continue to stymie efforts to deliver true 4G and even 5G spectrum.

    Some technologies include secure networks, carrier grade traffic management and long range Wi-Fi switches.

    In South Africa, AlwaysOn has launched its Wi-Fi calling service which operates along the lines of popular services such as Skype and WhatsApp calling.

    In the US, Sprint and T-Mobile provide Wi-Fi calling where the device can automatically switch to a Wi-Fi network if the mobile network in unavailable.

    Wi-Fi could make an impact in rural areas traditionally under-served by mobile operators.

    “Wi-Fi installations could mean the difference between no ICT access of any kind and an affordable service as it can be used as a complementary medium to enhance the operators’ offering — allowing them to get cost effective access to consumers in these areas,” Fletcher said.

    In the City of Tshwane, Wi-Fi is seen as a critical element of the government’s policy of driving universal Internet access by 2020.

    The Western Cape government is intent on spending R1,3bn as part of a broadband initiative for the province, in line with the South Africa Connect broadband policy.

    “Pervasive and affordable broadband is likely to stimulate innovation in broadband applications and services. This needs to be accompanied by investments in the development of critical mass, in ICT R&D capabilities, in innovation support measures and in advanced human capital development,” says the policy document.

    Project Isizwe has launched a pilot programme of Wi-Fi Internet access in the rural Eastern Cape at the Ingwe TVET College Mount Frere and Lusikisiki campuses.

    “Everyone says ‘It’s easy in Tshwane, but you can’t do it in a rural area’, but here we are,” Alan Knott-Craig, the brains behind Project Isizwe, said recently.

    But Wi-Fi access through calling has serious implications for mobile networks — especially if there was widespread adoption, warned Fletcher.

    “The technology used for Wi-Fi calling will drive greater amounts of smartphone traffic onto Wi-Fi networks and this could fundamentally change the mobile network operator business model.”

    He added that consumer patterns have already dictated that Wi-Fi is a national connectivity standard.

    “The reality is many consumers have become used to the idea of connecting their mobile devices to their home networks or other wireless hotspots to save on costs. It would therefore be a natural extension to use this connectivity for things such as voice calls and text messages.”  — Fin24

    Alan Knott-Craig Jr AlwaysOn Michael Fletcher Ruckus Wireless
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email
    Previous ArticleMark Shuttleworth loses battle with Bank
    Next Article Why Shuttleworth lost exchange control case

    Related Posts

    Spectrum auction opens up big growth opportunities – Ruckus Networks

    26 May 2022

    Broadcom agrees to buy VMware for $61-billion

    26 May 2022

    The cost for South Africa to quit its coal habit: R4-trillion – study

    26 May 2022
    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Promoted

    BT, MTN Business form strategic alliance in Africa

    26 May 2022

    Think like a start-up: how to build a competitive digital enterprise

    26 May 2022

    Breaking barriers: new payment solution opens up the online market

    26 May 2022
    Opinion

    A proposed solution to crypto’s stablecoin problem

    19 May 2022

    From spectrum to roads, why fixing SA’s problems is an uphill battle

    19 April 2022

    How AI is being deployed in the fight against cybercriminals

    8 April 2022

    Subscribe to Updates

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

    © 2009 - 2022 NewsCentral Media

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