LTE not a fixed broadband replacement: analyst

other than supporting Telkom's route of MSAN rollout with VDSL to support balanced with LTE rollout I don't see how the analysis really applies to SA. I don't believe anybody is advocating that LTE substitute out VDSL and FTTx and the real benefit of LTE is in lower volume customers for access. Telkom's copper network is still a key ingredient in higher volume traffic moving.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
You can call me an analyst too then.
Click to expand...

Now you see the term analyst by itself is meaningless so you need to be called some sort of an analyst. I am going with the DoC's description and will call you an "ICT Policy Analyst"
 
Paul Hjul said:
other than supporting Telkom's route of MSAN rollout with VDSL to support balanced with LTE rollout I don't see how the analysis really applies to SA. I don't believe anybody is advocating that LTE substitute out VDSL and FTTx and the real benefit of LTE is in lower volume customers for access. Telkom's copper network is still a key ingredient in higher volume traffic moving.
Click to expand...

The error this analyst makes is similar to what we see so often in this forum; Assuming everyone must be in the same environment as me with the same requirements. (The "I don't use 100MB/month, therefore no-one else does" types).

Different technologies address different needs and thus are mostly complementary with little overlap. Each has it's own unique combination of ease-of-installation, costs, performance, etc. In every country, a different ratio of installation will thus be evident.

FTTH, VDSL, LTE, ADSL, HSPA+, 3G (and even WiFi) all has its place in delivering broadband in SA, with LTE likely the dominant technology for the foreseeable future.
 
jannievanzyl said:
The error this analyst makes is similar to what we see so often in this forum; Assuming everyone must be in the same environment as me with the same requirements. (The "I don't use 100MB/month, therefore no-one else does" types).

Different technologies address different needs and thus are mostly complementary with little overlap. Each has it's own unique combination of ease-of-installation, costs, performance, etc. In every country, a different ratio of installation will thus be evident.

FTTH, VDSL, LTE, ADSL, HSPA+, 3G (and even WiFi) all has its place in delivering broadband in SA, with LTE likely the dominant technology for the foreseeable future.
Click to expand...

Agree with you.

Do you see LTE in SA as being capable of replacing FTTN/FTTH where users require more than 100Gb of data per more? Or will SA follow a similar path with 30-50Gb per month caps at lower speeds (10-12Mbps)?
 
Radio is finite always has been and always will be .
 
jannievanzyl said:
The error this analyst makes is similar to what we see so often in this forum; Assuming everyone must be in the same environment as me with the same requirements. (The "I don't use 100MB/month, therefore no-one else does" types).

Different technologies address different needs and thus are mostly complementary with little overlap. Each has it's own unique combination of ease-of-installation, costs, performance, etc. In every country, a different ratio of installation will thus be evident.

FTTH, VDSL, LTE, ADSL, HSPA+, 3G (and even WiFi) all has its place in delivering broadband in SA, with LTE likely the dominant technology for the foreseeable future.
Click to expand...
I don't see EDGE on your list but I do see ADSL. Is that because EDGE isn't broadband or because it will replaced quicker than ADSL?
I have my doubts about ADSL in the long run - assuming that it will be substituted with VDSL and LTE
Surely EDGE still has a future in South Africa after all one of the operators still needs it ...
 
Paul Hjul said:
I don't see EDGE on your list but I do see ADSL. Is that because EDGE isn't broadband or because it will replaced quicker than ADSL?
I have my doubts about ADSL in the long run - assuming that it will be substituted with VDSL and LTE
Surely EDGE still has a future in South Africa after all one of the operators still needs it ...
Click to expand...

VDSL will supplement ADSL, not replace it. (in the foreseeable future)
 
^ but I wants a 100Gb/s line to my house :(

mostly because of distance to exchange issues?
 
MickeyD said:
Agree with you.

Do you see LTE in SA as being capable of replacing FTTN/FTTH where users require more than 100Gb of data per more? Or will SA follow a similar path with 30-50Gb per month caps at lower speeds (10-12Mbps)?
Click to expand...

Not in the short term. I like to see LTE providing an 'ADSL-like' service but not an 'ADSL-replacement' service. I.e. for the vast majority of people LTE (and other 3G technologies) will provide an more than adequate broadband service with speeds in the 3 - 10Mb/s range and data usage under around the gigs mark.

If we get enough spectrum for LTE, it could play in your second scenario but we must never forget the inherent limitations of a radio network when it comes to sheer capacity.

Either way, LTE will never be replacement for FTTx, the sheer speeds and capacity of fibre just puts it in a different category.
 
Paul Hjul said:
I don't see EDGE on your list but I do see ADSL. Is that because EDGE isn't broadband or because it will replaced quicker than ADSL?
I have my doubts about ADSL in the long run - assuming that it will be substituted with VDSL and LTE
Surely EDGE still has a future in South Africa after all one of the operators still needs it ...
Click to expand...
With the formal definition of broadband being 384kb/s (or was it 256? - does not really matter), I excluded EDGE from this conversation but it will have a massive role to play for a long time for the vast majority of the 50million+ South Africans whose only internet access is via a feature phone on an EDGE network. Call this Mobile Internet vs. Mobile Broadband maybe.

ADSL *should* have been the primary broadband technology but that ship sailed many years ago and wireless will stay (and accelerate) as the dominant broadband service in South Africa.

VDSL will have an even more difficult time in rolling out, with the higher requirement on copper quality, etc. so the 'Broadband Pyramid' I described above will hold with VDSL and Fibre on the tip.
 
jannievanzyl said:
Not in the short term. I like to see LTE providing an 'ADSL-like' service but not an 'ADSL-replacement' service. I.e. for the vast majority of people LTE (and other 3G technologies) will provide an more than adequate broadband service with speeds in the 3 - 10Mb/s range and data usage under around the gigs mark.

If we get enough spectrum for LTE, it could play in your second scenario but we must never forget the inherent limitations of a radio network when it comes to sheer capacity.

Either way, LTE will never be replacement for FTTx, the sheer speeds and capacity of fibre just puts it in a different category.
Click to expand...
I'm on the same wavelength...

Ergo VC looking at neotel?
 
jannievanzyl said:
We can do this for you today. But you'll need Nkandla levels of investment. :)
Click to expand...
Well Nkandla levels of influence. You taking the installation but never settling the cheque, after all Oscar Wilde had a wonderful description of a Victorian aristocrat being one to never settle their debts.
You know the standard way big businesses and government service provision get burned - not by the low revenue customers who are quickly taken to wraps but by the big big accounts that don't get settled ;)
 
MickeyD said:
I'm on the same wavelength...

Ergo VC looking at neotel?
Click to expand...

I would venture that the valuable assets in a company like Neotel are around spectrum and fibre backhaul, not so much FTTH.

There is very little FTTH out there today, so that'll need to be built in any case. But a strong backhaul network allows you to come close to the gated communities and suburbs where FTTH will make sense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X