Tshwane plans broadband network
The City of Tshwane has launched a tender for a "wireless system broadband deployment" throughout the city.
"The main aim of this tender invitation is … to seek solutions and appoint telecommunications companies interested in deploying and operating a wireless network in the City of Tshwane municipal area," the tender document states.
According to the document the City of Tshwane would like to facilitate the development of a high speed open access broadband wireless infrastructure – using mainly Wi-Fi and WiMax technologies – that will provide businesses and households with affordable broadband access.
The aim of the project is:
– To provide affordable, true broadband connectivity to the City of Tshwane residents;
– To ensure that the network stimulates the creation of high speed and uptake of high bandwidth services to the residents of Tshwane;
– To promote educational, social and cultural development of the City of Tshwane residents and visitors.
Tshwane Municipality has already constructed an optical fiber backbone and operates an extensive fibre optic network covering an area of 2400 square kilometres. This network, which currently connects all the council buildings and is also used to interconnect electrical substations, will be used as the backbone of the proposed wireless access network.
According to a source close to the tender process an information session about the proposed wireless broadband network held on 12 March was attended by many of the big telecoms players as well as a group of smaller Wi-Fi providers.
The closing date for proposals is 2 April 2009 at 10:00.
Tshwane broadband plans – give your views
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