The R10-billion network game

[Bradley Prior]

The R10-billion network game

To build and operate a true national mobile network is so expensive that only two companies in South Africa have the money to do it - MTN and Vodacom.

Without very deep pockets, it is simply not possible to roll out and maintain a mobile network which covers the whole country.

 

[Gazg]

Even when spectrum does eventually available, there will be other excuses as to why the prices cant drop........

 

[Gaz{M}]

The problem is South Africa is a large country, with very few high density cities and then millions of sq km of rural, low population areas that all need coverage.

So unless you have tens of millions of subscribers, it is not profitable to roll out sites to less dense unprofitable areas - which is why it is cheaper for Telkom and Cell C to "roam" in these areas.

 

[Ockie]

Does anyone know if the 450mhz band is occupied in RSA? Have our mobile networks looked at it? Problem is, I dont think there are a lot of devices that support this band for LTE. Should be much cheaper to blanket a country with coverage using 450mhz LTE, and then as you pick up congestion as subscribers jump on, add capacity with towers on higher bands as and when needed?

LTE 450MHz: taking the road less travelled

With CDMA 450MHz having proved there is a lucrative niche for operators with access to the low-band frequencies, LTE is gaining momentum as the upgrade path of choice.

www.mobileworldlive.com

 

[Gaz{M}]

It all comes down to our USELESS Government who have been sitting on spectrum, in all bands, for decades while they debate policy, culture and economic ideology. The technology is there, it can't be used.

 

[supersunbird]

The R10-billion network game

To build and operate a true national mobile network is so expensive that only two companies in South Africa have the money to do it - MTN and Vodacom.

Without very deep pockets, it is simply not possible to roll out and maintain a mobile network which covers the whole country.

Not true, @Swa will come educate us on how cheap it is.

 

[DXL]

Government should consider declaring MTN & Vodacom Wholesale Open Access Networks.

Also by licencing a third WOAN.

Allocating Spectrum to MTN - Vodacom - 3rd WOAN.

Subject them to wholesale rules.

 

[gregmcc]

And here I was thinking the thread was about an expensive game.

Leaves disappointed.

 

[RudderVator]

Well, Vodacom better start spending far more than MTN soon since their network has really gone down the drain especially in the Gauteng areas with dropped calls, lack of throughput and instability etc Might just have to upgrade my next smartphone with MTN instead.

 

[Swa]

Not true, @Swa will come educate us on how cheap it is.

Straw man.

 

[krycor]

Government should consider declaring MTN & Vodacom Wholesale Open Access Networks.

Also by licencing a third WOAN.

Allocating Spectrum to MTN - Vodacom - 3rd WOAN.

Subject them to wholesale rules.

This is why WOAN was proposed.. because it is dumb to argue the existing way works when 25+yrs shows it has not lmao.

Aren’t they devising new licensing such that traditional MNOs have a infrastructure and teleco license? Ie smaller players & municipalities can act as infrastructure/woan in areas where telecom companies don’t see it as profitable for shareholders.

Yes gov, failed imp etc but that’s got nothing to do with profiteering and repercussions on gdp of past. And doing a woan in a teleco consortium Fibre style might actually work.

 

[krycor]

It all comes down to our USELESS Government who have been sitting on spectrum, in all bands, for decades while they debate policy, culture and economic ideology. The technology is there, it can't be used.

Based on data you can pull from Ericsson (they do teleco studies on impact on GDP), MTN & Vodacom are directly responsible for SA lagging badly for last decade vs ICT while Africa ICT, where telecoms is cheap, has a growth explosion with worse general infrastructure and often worse education frameworks initially.

Not everything in SA is purely government failure.. and if you believe corporates will consider the greater good impact rather than profiteering.. lmao. It’s dog eat dog here.. which is why we have an insane Gini ratio

 

[Swa]

The interesting thing is that both MTN and Vodacom used to roam on each other until they considered themselves too big to roam. Both were in an environment where they made enough to easily expand. Now Vodacom is ironically roaming on Rain.

I don't know why Cell C and Telkom don't join to roam on each other instead of duplicating infrastructure and continuing to feed the fat cats.