Neotel vs Telkom

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The_Unbeliever

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I was just wondering - Telkom is busy expanding its own 3G network.

With the Telkom3G network, you're able to use your existing 3G dongle from Vodacom or MTN, or any no-name 3G dongle which's compatible with the 3G network.

Which prompted me to wonder why Neotel didn't go the same route, but instead chose different hardware which isn't compatible with the existing crop of 3G routers and modems.

What do you guys think?
 
The_Librarian said:
I was just wondering - Telkom is busy expanding its own 3G network.

With the Telkom3G network, you're able to use your existing 3G dongle from Vodacom or MTN, or any no-name 3G dongle which's compatible with the 3G network.

Which prompted me to wonder why Neotel didn't go the same route, but instead chose different hardware which isn't compatible with the existing crop of 3G routers and modems.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

the 3G network works off the 2100 frequency bands, while the CDMA works off 2000, so the data devices opened to quad band (900, 1800, 1900, 2100) for 3G/HSDPA/HSUPA wouldn't have worked anyway with the CDMA technology.

Hugo
 
Neotel said:
the 3G network works off the 2100 frequency bands, while the CDMA works off 2000, so the data devices opened to quad band (900, 1800, 1900, 2100) for 3G/HSDPA/HSUPA wouldn't have worked anyway with the CDMA technology.

Hugo
Click to expand...

Is that not the crux of Libs' question? Why did Neotel go for CDMA?
 
moggie said:
Is that not the crux of Libs' question? Why did Neotel go for CDMA?
Click to expand...

We didn't apply as another Mobile Cellular licence when we launched, hence the different network technology.
Licence agreemnts were handed by ICASA to Mobile operators on the bands frequencies, and already your 3 stakeholders for those specific bands eg 2100 (which each operator is given a shared portion to utilise) was VC, MTN, and Cell C.

Hugo
 
Neotel said:
We didn't apply as another Mobile Cellular licence when we launched, hence the different network technology.
Licence agreemnts were handed by ICASA to Mobile operators on the bands frequencies, and already your 3 stakeholders for those specific bands eg 2100 (which each operator is given a shared portion to utilise) was VC, MTN, and Cell C.

Hugo
Click to expand...

There you go, Libs!!!

/thanks Hugo
 
Fixed Mobile can be provided over WCDMA .........................

Neotel said:
We didn't apply as another Mobile Cellular licence when we launched, hence the different network technology.
Licence agreemnts were handed by ICASA to Mobile operators on the bands frequencies, and already your 3 stakeholders for those specific bands eg 2100 (which each operator is given a shared portion to utilise) was VC, MTN, and Cell C.

Hugo
Click to expand...



Fixed Mobile can be provided over WCDMA .........................

Had Neotel chosen WCDMA they would have been the First Network in Africa to use WCDMA in the 850mhz
Band like in America.

IT's just the Backend Billing systems that needed to be changed.

Also to make it easier they could have accessed the 2100mhz band for urban and city centre's all
utilising the Fixed mobile option.

850mhz for Coverage
2100mhz for high traffic.

Telkom is providing fixed mobile using WCDMA 2100mhz with fixed line call rates fixed to a single Tower.
If any of you don't know it please read the forums and google it.

Almost 90% USB modems are 850mhz / 2100mhz compatible.

They made the wrong choice. It's their loss.

Sorry Hugo i just don't buy your explanation.

Many Countries have issued Fixed licences and Operators have chosen WCDMA for fixed wireless.

It's not too late for Neotel to change over as they only have +- 350 BTS.

Where there's a will there's a way.

http://sungia.com.tw/dl/3g_fwp.pdf

http://www.ericsson.com/ericsson/co...ness_review/pdf/107/the_business_case_for.pdf

http://www.brightstarcorp.com/news-...eless-terminals-to-the-north-american-market/



DXL - Team
 
Last edited:
DXL said:
Fixed Mobile can be provided over WCDMA .........................

Had Neotel chosen WCDMA they would have been the First Network in Africa to use WCDMA in the 850mhz
Band like in America.

IT's just the Backend Billing systems that needed to be changed.

Also to make it easier they could have accessed the 2100mhz band for urban and city centre's all
utilising the Fixed mobile option.

850mhz for Coverage
2100mhz for high traffic.

Telkom is providing fixed mobile using WCDMA 2100mhz with fixed line call rates fixed to a single Tower.
If any of you don't know it please read the forums and google it.

Almost 90% USB modems are 850mhz / 2100mhz compatible.

They made the wrong choice. It's their loss.

Sorry Hugo i just don't buy your explanation.

Many Countries have issued Fixed licences and Operators have chosen WCDMA for fixed wireless.

It's not too late for Neotel to change over as they only have +- 350 BTS.

Where there's a will there's a way.

http://sungia.com.tw/dl/3g_fwp.pdf

http://www.ericsson.com/ericsson/co...ness_review/pdf/107/the_business_case_for.pdf

http://www.brightstarcorp.com/news-...eless-terminals-to-the-north-american-market/



DXL - Team
Click to expand...

Thanks for your insight. This is always interesting reads and enjoy the discussions around this.

I stated when we launched as an organization we had Fibre (last mile) offerings and the decision was to initiate with CDMA as the frequency was open and un-utilized by anyone else.
In SA the 850 frequency is reserved for military use ONLY and hence it will not be utilized by anyone other than our beloved army.
America used the 1900 frequency because their military power required several frequency bands to operate on and so couldn't move on the 900/1800 (Africa and Europe) bands.

Hugo
 
Just to clear things Up ....................

Neotel said:
Thanks for your insight. This is always interesting reads and enjoy the discussions around this.

I stated when we launched as an organization we had Fibre (last mile) offerings and the decision was to initiate with CDMA as the frequency was open and un-utilized by anyone else.
In SA the 850 frequency is reserved for military use ONLY and hence it will not be utilized by anyone other than our beloved army.
America used the 1900 frequency because their military power required several frequency bands to operate on and so couldn't move on the 900/1800 (Africa and Europe) bands.

Hugo
Click to expand...

Neotel uses 5mhz of the 850mhz Band for it's CDMA Network.

Thats enough Spectrum to launch 850 WCDMA and ICASA would have released 10mhz of 2100mhz Band
for them had they requested it via their business case and plan.

ICASA still has about 20mhz of Spectrum left in the 2100mhz band after allocating to :

MTN - VodaCom - Cell-C - Telkom-Mobile

So Neotel could have obtained it.

And launched a Dual Band WCDMA 850/2100mhz Band Network.

They would have signed up a whole lot more subscribers than Telkom.

They would have had first mover advantage.

MTN - Cell-C are currently Building 900/2100mhz WCDMA Networks in South Africa.

The fruit of which we will see in early 2011.

VodaCom is already in the process of following suit.

Hugo, Maybe you should get the Big Boys of Neotel to start reading this Forum.

They can learn a thing or 2.


DXL - Team
 
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