Vodacom postpones 3.5 G plans
In May this year Pieter Uys, COO of Vodacom, announced that their new 2 Mbps HSDPA service will be available to users before the end of 2005.
HSDPA or High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (also called 3.5G) is a packet-based data service with theoretical data transmission speeds of up to 8-10 Mbit/s.
Whilst most things are in place, software issues and a shortage of data cards forced Vodacom to postpone their initial launch date until mid-January 2006.
According to Uys the Siemens Commercial Software was only available two weeks later than initially anticipated which stalled their rollout plans. Uys said that this setback delayed the whole process by 4 weeks.
The initial rollout will take place in Midrand where issues like handover and network stability will be evaluated. The rest of the network will follow a few weeks later.
Vodacom’s HSDPA trial has been running for some time already and according to Vodacom the results are very promising.
HSDPA testing on the pre-commercial network in Midrand gave average downlink speeds of between 1.2 and 1.5 Mbps, with a peak rate of around 1.8 Mbps.
Uys said that he feels comfortable offering customers a 1 Mbps service, but would currently not commit to a 2 Mbps service. While the network looks ready to handle these speeds the limiting factor seems to be with the data card component.
Initial offerings will give users a downlink speed of 384 Kbps, but with the introduction of HSUPA or High Speed Uplink Packet Access this figure can rise to 1 Mbps.
Many users are eagerly awaiting the commercial availability of the new HSDPA service and cards. The higher speeds are undoubtedly the main attraction, but the new data cards also promised an all-in-one HSDPA, 3G, EDGE and GPRS solution.
HSDPA has already been launched commercially in some locations internationally, most notably by Cingular Wireless in the United States and by O2 on the Isle of Man.
MTN has already initiated their HSDPA trials with corporate clients and expect their commercial launch in the second quarter of 2006.
While Vodacom could not launch their HSDPA service as early as promised, it is still expected that they will pip MTN to the HSDPA post if they can achieve an early 2006 launch.
Another piece of good news for Vodacom customers is that the operator has clear intentions to reduce data rates in 2006.
To compete effectively in a broadband arena a significantly reduced price for data is necessary.
At a cost of R 2-00 per Megabyte it will be possible to notch up a bill of around R 1000-00 within an hour with the new HSDPA offering.
Even at the current prepaid rate of R 499-00 per Gigabyte the higher speeds will serve little purpose since the restricting factor of this broadband service will be price.
Vodacom will most likely remain the wireless broadband leader, despite their exorbitant cost in comparison with Sentech and WBS.
Their general honesty with the press and good communication with consumers through the MyADSL forums have created loyal customers who are willing to walk a long road with them.
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