National Broadband Network (NBN) for South Africa?

[Celine]

i don't see how any of this long and drawn out process of getting people to attempt to contribute to something like this will even fall on anyone's ears. when there is government involved and dictatorship such as telkom, it becomes tiresome just trying to be heard. anyone can put forward some document laying out what they foresee in the future but it will be completely and utterly ignored because the government is still so full of red tape it's not funny.

i worked in a government department that wanted to "hear" the employees. within a year the project was abandoned because the government will always be dictatorial.

sorry that's my 2 cents worth.

[ellipsis]

i don't see how any of this long and drawn out process of getting people to attempt to contribute to something like this will even fall on anyone's ears. when there is government involved and dictatorship such as telkom, it becomes tiresome just trying to be heard. anyone can put forward some document laying out what they foresee in the future but it will be completely and utterly ignored because the government is still so full of red tape it's not funny.

i worked in a government department that wanted to "hear" the employees. within a year the project was abandoned because the government will always be dictatorial.

sorry that's my 2 cents worth.

hi Celine
please don't apologise, sure we all feel that way (know I do) - we believe, however, that you still have to try even though you may feel cynical about whether your document will even be read. We will do everything we can to make sure it is and we believe that it is absolutely critical that a consumer voice starts to emerge - if we just leave the conversation to take place between Government and large industry there is no chance of anything changing as it needs to.
dominic

[Garyvdh]

The government cannot be trusted to build anything without massive graft, cost overruns, shoddy workmanship, tender fraud, and general incompetence.

Rather appoint private companies in an open and transparent process to build and maintain the networks and require them to openly contract with any applicant to get access to such network.

We should also be canvassing internationally for reputable companies to come in and build networks that will be overseen by the regulator and the DoC so as to ensure fair pricing and open access.

[lucifir]

There are a number of cheaper and faster options to achieving the DoCs goal.
1. Government buys out all the other Telkom shareholders and delists the company, aka nationalise Telkom. This is still far cheaper than rolling out new infrastructure.

at the current market price, this would be the best(cheapest,easiest,quickest) solution to get the fibre backbone

[cerebus]

My first indication is that while this project has obvious merits, I do not know that the competence exists either in Telkom or the DoC to implement it timeously and within the budget constraints. I would suggest that they contract third parties from within and without South Africa to bid fairly for the contract.

I would question whether this project is intended to be a net revenue provider or a government service. If the former, how do they intend to monetize it? If the latter, how will they fund it over the long term? Once the infrastructure is rolled out, it will still require a great deal of maintenance. The use of the word 'complimentary' suggests that they have some idea of providing free wireless internet to rural areas. Is this realistic or even necessary, when those areas still don't have decent basic amenities, and education facilities are in total shambles? If 'reducing connectivity costs' is the end-goal, there are already a number of steps they could take in that direction, but are not apparently willing to do.

[Celine]

My first indication is that while this project has obvious merits, I do not know that the competence exists either in Telkom or the DoC to implement it timeously and within the budget constraints. I would suggest that they contract third parties from within and without South Africa to bid fairly for the contract.

I would question whether this project is intended to be a net revenue provider or a government service. If the former, how do they intend to monetize it? If the latter, how will they fund it over the long term? Once the infrastructure is rolled out, it will still require a great deal of maintenance. The use of the word 'complimentary' suggests that they have some idea of providing free wireless internet to rural areas. Is this realistic or even necessary, when those areas still don't have decent basic amenities, and education facilities are in total shambles? If 'reducing connectivity costs' is the end-goal, there are already a number of steps they could take in that direction, but are not apparently willing to do.

funded by the tax paying citizens of this country cerebus. you hit the nail on the head. all this project is is to provide free internet usage to the rural areas as you have so stated.

i have no intention whatsoever to provide or share my input to a bunch of fat lazy a$$ed people who won't be interested in what i, or other people have to say anyway.

[sajunky]

The only things NBN can achieve is a total government control over business, private communication and personal development of individuals. It is instrumental project for future content control deployment (as it is in China). Leave broadband to the business, it is the most efficient way to develop infrastructure.

[ichigo]

As long as Telkom is a monopoly company and nothing else changes I dont see this plan going into effect

[skimread]

What ever happened to the Joburg Broadband network or rather the money that was allocated to it.

[WireFree]

The only things NBN can achieve is a total government control over business, private communication and personal development of individuals. It is instrumental project for future content control deployment (as it is in China). Leave broadband to the business, it is the most efficient way to develop infrastructure.

The NBN does not prohibit competition. Most networks that are rolling out their own fibre concentrate on the large CBDs and if you are lucky larger towns. If you live if a town with less than 10,000 people, fibre from a private company is probably a pipe dream. These are areas where the government's NBN will fill in the gaps for businesses and individuals. It also comes down to what level of control government wants. In one respect government could just own the infrastructure, and you would still need an ISP for Internet access.

A number of countries have started similar projects, e.g. Australia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Broadband_Network

The eThekwini Metroconnect is an example of a municipal level fibre network - that seems to be cheaper than fibre from the usual private companies. I would expect the NBN to be the national equivalent of the eThekwini Metroconnect.

WireFree

[WireFree]

What ever happened to the Joburg Broadband network or rather the money that was allocated to it.

I think you can find info at www.bwired.co.za

[skimread]

I think you can find info at www.bwired.co.za

Thanks

BWIRED soft launch a success


Ericsson and BWired were asked by the City of Johannesburg to update them on the progress of the Johannesburg Broadband Network Project. Westbury Seconday School in Martindale, Jabulani Civic in Soweto, and St. Stithians College in Sandton were chosen do demonstrate from, with Westbury Secondary School being the main demo site. These sites were chosen as they were connected by the JBN fibre and were fitting for the kind of demonstration Ericsson and BWired wished to present.

The demonstrations consisted of e-Health, e-Learning, distance learning, SWOT (Social Web of Things), Immersive Visual Applications, Mobile Survey Tool, PC as a Service (housed in London), and Community Power. The e-Learning and Distance Learning were of particular interest as all guests witnessed an actual maths lesson being broadcast from St. Stithians College using video, voice and data flawlessly. The 2 classrooms could see each other and communicate clearly, interact with each other via a Smartboard and do their exercises via a MobiPad wireless device.

The day was attended by Counsellor Amos Masondo, various Ministers and City of Johannesburg Delegates, Media, Ericsson and Bwired Delegates and guests. On the whole, the day was a great success and everybody was thoroughly impressed with the project to date, and its vision for the future of the City of Johannesburg.

I wish gov saw broadband networks as being about scale not some feel good school classroom project.

[undercoverMunky]

A couple random points...

Whatever happened to WiMAX??
If you want to reach all areas in South Africa you'll have to Wireless at some point and WiMAX is a really good option, it provides the speeds required and decent coverage.

In areas we Fibre can be rolled out that would be ideal, I think a target should be set for the speeds though. Nothing less than 10 Mbs should count as Broadband.

Government needs to just go ahead and start rolling out the Cabling, don't wait for the Telecoms companies to get on-board, if you lay the cable you're opening the door for healthy competition. Most start-ups in South Africa can't afford that initial cost of laying cable - but if it's there to use I'm sure they'll make good use of it!

[Scooby_Doo]

IMO I would rather not have the Government hold all the cards in this imaginary network. Everything that they hold seems to fall to pieces or at lease is not run as it should. If you think trying to get Telkom to come out and fix your ADSL is bad, imagine trying a government call centre...

[MobileOu]

Short version [long version in next post]: There are strong indications that the Department of Communications is considering the creation of a National Broadband Network (NBN). Basically this would be a national FTTH network in urban areas with complimentary satellite and LTE networks for other areas operated on an open access basis, i.e. it would provide wholesale services to retailers.

The most recent example is being rolled out in Australia. From Wikipedia:



Sound good?

MyBB is making submissions to the Department of Communications on its policies for the next 10-15 years, and this is one of the issues.

Is this a good thing? Any suggestions as to how this could be achieved? Post here and your words could be winging their way to the ears of the Minister...

Please only constructive posts on suggestions that can be made...

Telkom has the biggest backhaul network. Government should acquire Telkom and unbundle it in Access, Long Distance BackHaul networks. Infraco and Sentech should be merged into the latter.

There should be emphasis on regional operators that operate where "Telkom finds it difficult" to operate and unwilling to do so. The local loop should be unbundled.

The Access network and Transmission should be opened to smaller operators as well at wholesale prices.

While we're at it, Vodacom came about because of Telkom who benefitted from the previous dispensation. Vodacom should also be approached to open it's network on a wholesale level.