MTN: “Delivering on our 3G commitment”
Brian Seligmann recently gave a broadband update regarding MTN’s map for the data market. He noted that their biggest challenge was to change the misconception that a wireless connection was more expensive than dial-up.
Here Seligmann reiterated that he was referring to the low end user and not people wanting to make huge downloads, ‘but for 95% of the Internet community in South Africa’ he was confident that MTN’s data packages could present themselves as a viable alternative to dial-up.
Seligman further said that MTN is revisiting their current data rates and packages and that users can expect to see something in this space soon. This is of particular value with higher speeds being introduced.
Seligmann added that MTN were making plans to become a fully fledged ISP and would look into offering ‘the whole package’. MTN is, for example, currently investigating the viability of offering a comprehensive email service for consumers.
MTN have also stood by their claim that they are the first to enter the HSDPA market adding substance to their promise of delivering on their 3G commitment. This has long been an arena of contention between the yellow giant and fierce competitor Vodacom.
While some Internet sources credit MTN as being the first African operator to launch 3G evolved, others give Vodacom the nod. Even Telkom’s CEO, Papi Molotsane, jumped in recently saying Vodacom was the first to launch with MTN following.
But in reality it all comes down to the users experience of the service. This means in order to really deliver mobile operators must have enough base stations, they must have enough bandwidth and the also have the support staff to carry their subscriber base.
Only time will tell which cellular company is in fact delivering the goods, but for now it is delightful for consumers to sit back and watch the impact of true competition in the wireless broadband arena.
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