Wireless internet now option
27/11/2003 16:56 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A new fixed cost wireless broadband Internet service
will be launched in January next year. In just six weeks, South
African Internet users will be able to connect at high speed to the
Internet without a physical telephone line connection.
Sentech announced plans to deploy the new services, commencing in
Gauteng, followed by Durban and Cape Town. Sentech is the state-owned
but commercially run TV and radio signal distributor and is licensed
to carry the traffic for local and international telecommunications
operators, including audio, data and video.
The new portable wireless broadband Internet service, called
MyWireless will be offered as three packages - MyWireless 128, which
offers a shared 128Kbps connection, mainly for residential users and
two higher bandwidth offerings, namely MyWireless 256 and MyWireless
512 aimed at the small office home office (SOHO) and small- to medium-
sized enterprises.
"Simply, MyWireless is an Internet service whereby users are able to
send and receive data at high speeds over the air," says Winston
Smith, portfolio manager of Sentech's wireless broadband products.
Up until now, the primary medium for Internet connections has been
through fixed lined networks run by Telkom.
"Wireless broadband traffic is routed over our secure, world standard
high powered radio networks. We have transmitters on several high
sites and users with a Sentech wireless modem within range of these
zones, are able to hook up to the Internet and do anything from send
and receive e-mail to visit their favourite websites," says Smith.
MyWireless offers a shared Internet connection that is centrally
managed to ensure a good quality of service to the end user. And there
is no capping of traffic - users can send and receive as much data as
they like without having to pay any additional charges.
Sentech's initial broadband Internet package will be a bundled service
comprising of a Sentech modem or PCMCIA wireless card, a connection
and unlimited Internet access for a fixed monthly fee. The modems can
be attached to virtually any desktop or notebook computer.
MyWireless pricing is good news for consumers - at an all inclusive
R649 a month for the 128Kbps service, R849 per month for the 256Kbps,
and the 512 product will cost R1 449 per month, apparently making this
is the most cost effective Internet connection on offer. A once-off
activation fee of R500 is payable when purchasing any of the products.
It's important to make the distinction between broadband wireless and
other wireless technologies like Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) and General
Packet Radio Services (GPRS).
Data traffic on the Sentech broadband wireless network is monitored
and delivered more efficiently through the organisation's
sophisticated network operations centre.
27/11/2003 16:56 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A new fixed cost wireless broadband Internet service
will be launched in January next year. In just six weeks, South
African Internet users will be able to connect at high speed to the
Internet without a physical telephone line connection.
Sentech announced plans to deploy the new services, commencing in
Gauteng, followed by Durban and Cape Town. Sentech is the state-owned
but commercially run TV and radio signal distributor and is licensed
to carry the traffic for local and international telecommunications
operators, including audio, data and video.
The new portable wireless broadband Internet service, called
MyWireless will be offered as three packages - MyWireless 128, which
offers a shared 128Kbps connection, mainly for residential users and
two higher bandwidth offerings, namely MyWireless 256 and MyWireless
512 aimed at the small office home office (SOHO) and small- to medium-
sized enterprises.
"Simply, MyWireless is an Internet service whereby users are able to
send and receive data at high speeds over the air," says Winston
Smith, portfolio manager of Sentech's wireless broadband products.
Up until now, the primary medium for Internet connections has been
through fixed lined networks run by Telkom.
"Wireless broadband traffic is routed over our secure, world standard
high powered radio networks. We have transmitters on several high
sites and users with a Sentech wireless modem within range of these
zones, are able to hook up to the Internet and do anything from send
and receive e-mail to visit their favourite websites," says Smith.
MyWireless offers a shared Internet connection that is centrally
managed to ensure a good quality of service to the end user. And there
is no capping of traffic - users can send and receive as much data as
they like without having to pay any additional charges.
Sentech's initial broadband Internet package will be a bundled service
comprising of a Sentech modem or PCMCIA wireless card, a connection
and unlimited Internet access for a fixed monthly fee. The modems can
be attached to virtually any desktop or notebook computer.
MyWireless pricing is good news for consumers - at an all inclusive
R649 a month for the 128Kbps service, R849 per month for the 256Kbps,
and the 512 product will cost R1 449 per month, apparently making this
is the most cost effective Internet connection on offer. A once-off
activation fee of R500 is payable when purchasing any of the products.
It's important to make the distinction between broadband wireless and
other wireless technologies like Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) and General
Packet Radio Services (GPRS).
Data traffic on the Sentech broadband wireless network is monitored
and delivered more efficiently through the organisation's
sophisticated network operations centre.