Cell C multi-billion rand network upgrade plans

Wow!!! So I might even be able to browse the internet despite having full HSPA signal this time next year.
 
Cell C plans to replace an additional 456 sites in the southern Gauteng region (which includes Johannesburg) by the end of September, while the remaining 382 sites in the West (Krugersdorp area) are expected to be completed by the end of November.
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I hope that it includes Bassonia and Glenvista, which at the moment it's lacking...
 
Patience... I suppose we need to be patient to "feel" these upgrades. I'm personally giving them a year to improve their data network. If not, then I'm gone.
 
Vodacom and MTN have already done their forklift replacement of their old base stations with Huawei kit. It's more modern so should give better performance all around and is more future-ready. I don't like the Huawei at all, but I would expect the new network to perform better than the old.
 
entrepr said:
Vodacom and MTN have already done their forklift replacement of their old base stations with Huawei kit. It's more modern so should give better performance all around and is more future-ready. I don't like the Huawei at all, but I would expect the new network to perform better than the old.
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What strikes me is that suddenly CellC have cash to upgrade all these nodes. Its begs the question as to whether this is actually "cash" or another Chinese loan. Time will tell

NSNs kit was hardly old (installed in 2010?) Yes there will be improvement but for how long?
The other thing is whats going to happen when sites need to be upgraded and capacity added, where is the cash going to come from then...

I foresee another bout of network problems coming in the next 18 months or sooner.
 
SteveO said:
What strikes me is that suddenly CellC have cash to upgrade all these nodes. Its begs the question as to whether this is actually "cash" or another Chinese loan. Time will tell

NSNs kit was hardly old (installed in 2010?) Yes there will be improvement but for how long?
The other thing is whats going to happen when sites need to be upgraded and capacity added, where is the cash going to come from then...
.
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I have no doubt the Chinese government assisted with loans - otherwise Huawei wouldn't have touched this particular project.

I think the NSN kit being replaced is probably the original kit, not the post-ZTE installations in 2010.
 
Chinese government will happily sponsor Huawei with all the backdoor info it gives them access to.
 
MickeyD said:
So the "couple" is 2?

Rather small when compared to what the other operators are spending on network expansion.
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a good and proper couple
3 would get some attention

10 a bit crowded ...

Also if you consider that they are needing to expand into their uptake it isn't particularly promising
but it does show that they haven't "burnt the furniture" yet and have at least another 15 months in the ring which is contrary to what the prophets of doom have been saying
 
SteveO said:
What strikes me is that suddenly CellC have cash to upgrade all these nodes. Its begs the question as to whether this is actually "cash" or another Chinese loan. Time will tell

NSNs kit was hardly old (installed in 2010?) Yes there will be improvement but for how long?
The other thing is whats going to happen when sites need to be upgraded and capacity added, where is the cash going to come from then...

I foresee another bout of network problems coming in the next 18 months or sooner.
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I'm interested to see by how much their client base grew since the whole ICASA thing. How much extra revenue have they been getting since...
 
Paul Hjul said:
probably better or cheaper support and the costs of replacement is less than the savings
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Depending on the deal, they don't charge for the swapout. They only charge for network expansion and future software licensing. The MTN first phase was reputed to net Huawei R1.
 
Gulio said:
Cell c needs Ericsson.
What does TM use, anyone know?
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TM uses Huawei. They all use Huawei for the radio access network. If they showed true initiative, they could actually co-locate and share equipment costs.
 
whatwhat said:
Chinese government will happily sponsor Huawei with all the backdoor info it gives them access to.
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Not sure if they can do that. However it is a form of export subsidy. Direct subsidy is not allowed under international trade rules, whereas I guess soft loans are OK.
 
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