silversurfer
Well-Known Member
Sentech challenges landlines
[Johannesburg, 29 August 2003] - Satellite communications company Sentech has launched a broadband via satellite service that it says will “break the telephone stranglehold on Internet access”.
Promising to bring unheard-of speed to the local Internet market, Sentech launched its VSTAR service in Johannesburg this week.
Sentech says this is the first of a large range of satellite and terrestrial wireless broadband communication services to be launched under Sentech's multimedia licence in the next few months.
VSTAR is described as a packaged, always-on, off-the-shelf, bi-directional broadband service via satellite that always includes the Internet. Sentech CEO Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane says that because the services are based entirely on satellite, they will allow users anywhere in SA to get connected – irrespective of whether landlines are available or not.
“The idea is for us to be able to go rural, as SA has a largely rural population,” says Gladwin Marumo, Sentech COO.
The satellite company says its new offering has a strong competitive-edge over other services.
Mokone-Matabane said at the launch: “We are fully entrenched in the telecommunications market, and we will deliver VSAT technology in a unique and innovative way that will enhance its capabilities into fast and reliable wireless broadband services that are more cost-effective than anyone else in this country has tried before.”
Mokone-Matabane said the VSTAR 512/50 included unlimited always-on Internet access with fixed monthly costs. “The product will deliver broadband access at speeds of up to 512 kilobits per second. This is based on a contention rate of a maximum of 50.”
Marumo elaborated: “We have no cap to our satellite broadband usage – we tell the customer upfront what kind of service they will be getting, which is an always on service with no limitations. We aim to compete with Telkom on all levels – including service and price, but our most important advantage is the reliability and that our offering is an always on service.”
Marumo said that while testing had taken some time, planning had been done thoroughly and the system is now running with some major customers, including the Post Office. “We have been taking it slow and making sure everything works first, but now the race is on, the stake is in the ground, and now we have to run with it.”
Mokone-Matabane said Sentech would accelerate the roll-out of services by partnering with key companies.
[Johannesburg, 29 August 2003] - Satellite communications company Sentech has launched a broadband via satellite service that it says will “break the telephone stranglehold on Internet access”.
Promising to bring unheard-of speed to the local Internet market, Sentech launched its VSTAR service in Johannesburg this week.
Sentech says this is the first of a large range of satellite and terrestrial wireless broadband communication services to be launched under Sentech's multimedia licence in the next few months.
VSTAR is described as a packaged, always-on, off-the-shelf, bi-directional broadband service via satellite that always includes the Internet. Sentech CEO Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane says that because the services are based entirely on satellite, they will allow users anywhere in SA to get connected – irrespective of whether landlines are available or not.
“The idea is for us to be able to go rural, as SA has a largely rural population,” says Gladwin Marumo, Sentech COO.
The satellite company says its new offering has a strong competitive-edge over other services.
Mokone-Matabane said at the launch: “We are fully entrenched in the telecommunications market, and we will deliver VSAT technology in a unique and innovative way that will enhance its capabilities into fast and reliable wireless broadband services that are more cost-effective than anyone else in this country has tried before.”
Mokone-Matabane said the VSTAR 512/50 included unlimited always-on Internet access with fixed monthly costs. “The product will deliver broadband access at speeds of up to 512 kilobits per second. This is based on a contention rate of a maximum of 50.”
Marumo elaborated: “We have no cap to our satellite broadband usage – we tell the customer upfront what kind of service they will be getting, which is an always on service with no limitations. We aim to compete with Telkom on all levels – including service and price, but our most important advantage is the reliability and that our offering is an always on service.”
Marumo said that while testing had taken some time, planning had been done thoroughly and the system is now running with some major customers, including the Post Office. “We have been taking it slow and making sure everything works first, but now the race is on, the stake is in the ground, and now we have to run with it.”
Mokone-Matabane said Sentech would accelerate the roll-out of services by partnering with key companies.