Thank you for your interest in technological advances and your choice of Provider relating to this.
To start off with I can assure you that I do extensive research in the Telecommunications market locally and International and I use this changing landscape to complete a Doctoral degree in Business Administration.
Hereby my response:
1.How have you as an ISP prepared for Seacom? What preparations or inquiries have you made to date?
Sainet raised enquiries and we are closely monitoring the progress in terms of the Seacom process as well as market expert opinions on the developments. Indeed, we used the opportunity to relocate our infrastructure in a Centre which is capable of tapping in a direct fiber link to and 1st Tier Operator’s bandwidth – including Seacom.
2.When do you anticipate connecting to Seacom? or through to Seacom using top tier providers?
Seacom landed in Mtunzini on the East Coast. In order for any provider to tap into Seacom, a connection to the distribution facility would be required. It is uncertain how Seacom will bring the connectivity to Johannesburg; that will be the next leg that will bring clarity as to how and where connections will terminate. Both options will be considered – direct into Seacom or via a 1st Tier provider, but we don’t have all the answers to make a firm decision.
3.What pricing models and products are you looking at or proposing for the next few months?
We will be introducing not less than 10 new products in the next three months (proprietary information at this stage) which will include lower pricing, creative uncapped, unshaped, content filtered access etc. This will be done without Seacom connectivity but can be adopted seamlessly.
4.What logistical problems do you foresee in connecting to Seacom and providing access through to Seacom?
I do foresee technical problems: Secom line need to proof itself as reliable, path of failure is more complex than the SAT-3 cable, new technology need to “ settle in” and proof itself as robust over at least a 24-36 month period. There are more details in this question which many market experts raised the past few months.
I raised the following question to Telkom who use the proven SAT-3 cable running along the West coast of Africa in a meeting 3 weeks ago: What do you plan to do if Seacom lands with aggressive bandwidth pricing? The answer: “We will either have to follow suit or lead the way”. The probability of lower prices on the existing SAT-3 surely exist and opens the window of lower telecoms prices across all mediums.
I trust this answers your questions, please mail me if you require more information.
Best Regards,
Marius Oberholzer
CEO (NDEENG(LC), MBA)
SAINET
