Are hotspots really that hot?
19 November 2003
News
ICASA has finally made a decision on the legality of wireless 'hotspots' in South Africa and it appears that everything is go for the rollout of what is the foundation of mobile computing - wireless connectivity.
"The fact that hotspots are now legal may not spur a sudden rush of 'hotspot' deployment," says Steve Nossel, country manager for Intel South Africa. "In fact we are unlikely to see very much uptake on this new technology until the cost of mobile and fixed line bandwidth to support it comes down."
"One of the unfortunate side-effects of South Africa's monopolistic telecom structure is the cost of bandwidth," says Nossel. "Broadband here costs the equivalent of about $120 per month, or around R800. Over a 12 month period this translates to about R9600 for bandwidth. When you consider that you can buy a new computer for less than R7000 today, consumers and business users are questioning whether having broadband at all is worth it. As a result, the growth of the wireless computing market in South Africa may remain low."
Internationally, analysts last year predicted that by the end of 2003, wireless hotspots would number around 37 000 worldwide. This figure has since been revised to 71 000 as the demand for wireless services in countries that are not constrained by telecom monopolies or strict government control. Additionally, analysts at Gartner predict that by the end of 2005, 80% of notebook computers in use would feature integrated wireless connectivity. By the end of 2008 more than 167 000 wireless hotspots will have been deployed.
Adds Nossel, "It seems ridiculous that while PCs have become more affordable than ever before, the price of using the Internet or communicating with a corporate network remain as high as they are. The kind of growth in wireless communication that regions such as the USA and Europe have experienced may not occur here as the costs of communication remain restrictive. It is up to business and consumers alike to pressure government and telecom providers into making bandwidth cheaper and more accessible to a wider market."
For more information contact Steve Nossel, Intel SA, 011 806 4530, steven.nossel@intel.com
Further reading:
From the editor's desk: Yes, it’s that thing everyone’s talking about
25 March 2020, Technews Publishing
, News
Call me a pessimist, but I’m absolutely, 100% certain that I’m going to catch COVID-19 (or the ‘novel coronavirus’ if you prefer to call it that) – if I haven’t done so already. At least the mortality
...
Read more...
Electronics news digest
25 March 2020
, News
Overseas Business
• ams reported record revenues and results for full year 2019, with revenues up 32% year-on-year, and fourth quarter revenues exceeding expectations with strong adjusted operating
...
Read more...
XinaBox – Reaching for the stars
25 March 2020, RS Components (SA)
, News
From collecting data in sub-zero Antarctica to rapid circuit prototyping on the International Space Station this South African company is reinventing the way we approach IoT while inspiring students to follow STEM careers.
Read more...
Electrocomp launches new website
25 March 2020, Electrocomp
, News
Electrocomp is inviting visitors to explore its new website, which has been designed to offer a user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality while allowing customers to see their
...
Read more...
Looking beyond radar, the car’s virtual eye
25 March 2020, Altron Arrow
, News
Faster, higher-resolution radar sensors have enabled the next generation of driver assistance technologies through improvements in vehicle safety and comfort in view.
Read more...
Disposing of e-waste in space
26 February 2020
, News
According to BBC, there are over half a million pieces of debris floating around the Earth’s orbit. Most debris within the atmosphere are lost parts from space crafts, disused rocket stages or waste from
...
Read more...
IPC revises five standards
26 February 2020
, News
IPC announced the release of five newly revised standards covering several areas of the supply chain:
· IPC/WHMA-A-620D, Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies.
· IPC-2223E, ...
Read more...
Testerion to represent ITW EAE in SA
26 February 2020, Testerion
, News
ITW EAE announced a new extended partnership agreement with Testerion South Africa to represent and distribute all ITW EAE equipment including MPM printers, Camalot dispensers, Electrovert soldering systems,
...
Read more...
Würth helps produce PCBs for ventilators
25 March 2020, Würth Elektronik eiSos
, News
The worldwide spread of the coronavirus is not only increasing the demand for personal protective equipment, but also for medical ventilators. In order to ensure the supply in Germany, the German government
...
Read more...
u-blox acquires Thingstream
25 March 2020
, News
u-blox has acquired IoT communication-as-a-service provider, Thingstream. Thingstream provides a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for global IoT connectivity using the industry standard MQTT protocol.
...
Read more...
printer friendly version