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Telkom kicks off new tech
11/01/2005 11:58 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Telkom announced on Tuesday that it is conducting trials on next-generation WiMAX broadband wireless connectivity.
The trials are part of on-going efforts to find a solution that is expected to lead to high-speed, broadband wireless access across several kilometres for Telkom customers.
Telkom and Intel recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the trials for the technology in a bid to facilitate a wireless alternative for the "last mile" broadband connectivity.
The technology is expected to open new market opportunities, Telkom's Thami Msimango noted, adding that WiMAX trials began in earnest with a small number of trial customers connected to two sites in Pretoria.
As part of the trials, the phone group has installed two Alvarion base stations operating on the IEEE 802.16a standard at the state-held CSIR and the Lukasrand sites in Pretoria following an agreement with Grintek to run trial sites with Alvarion's BreezeMax Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) solution.
The phone group has already demonstrated the much-hyped voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication - which becomes legal on February 1 - and data transmission.
Given that VoIP enables operators to relay voice over the internet, it becomes cheaper to make a phone call using this method than a Telkom line.
The legalisation of VoIP would slash long-distance phone calls, to the benefit of ordinary people and business phone users.
The delivery of last mile access would continue to be one of the biggest technical challenges facing the telecommunications and the hi-tech sector as broadband offering could not only be resolved with DSL or fibre solutions.
Wireless broadband technology has the potential to satisfy customers that have portability and mobility demands, Msimango added.
Telkom kicks off new tech
11/01/2005 11:58 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Telkom announced on Tuesday that it is conducting trials on next-generation WiMAX broadband wireless connectivity.
The trials are part of on-going efforts to find a solution that is expected to lead to high-speed, broadband wireless access across several kilometres for Telkom customers.
Telkom and Intel recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the trials for the technology in a bid to facilitate a wireless alternative for the "last mile" broadband connectivity.
The technology is expected to open new market opportunities, Telkom's Thami Msimango noted, adding that WiMAX trials began in earnest with a small number of trial customers connected to two sites in Pretoria.
As part of the trials, the phone group has installed two Alvarion base stations operating on the IEEE 802.16a standard at the state-held CSIR and the Lukasrand sites in Pretoria following an agreement with Grintek to run trial sites with Alvarion's BreezeMax Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) solution.
The phone group has already demonstrated the much-hyped voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication - which becomes legal on February 1 - and data transmission.
Given that VoIP enables operators to relay voice over the internet, it becomes cheaper to make a phone call using this method than a Telkom line.
The legalisation of VoIP would slash long-distance phone calls, to the benefit of ordinary people and business phone users.
The delivery of last mile access would continue to be one of the biggest technical challenges facing the telecommunications and the hi-tech sector as broadband offering could not only be resolved with DSL or fibre solutions.
Wireless broadband technology has the potential to satisfy customers that have portability and mobility demands, Msimango added.