Promises of 20 Mbps uncapped Internet for SA
Global Verge, in partnership with Buzzirk Mobile, is promising South Africans a 20 Mbps, uncapped wireless broadband service for $ 50 (less than R 500) per month and an unlimited mobile voice service for $ 99 (less than R 1 000) per month.
According to a blog post on 18 April titled: “Announcing High Speed Satellite Internet for South Africa”, Bev Brossi, independent associate of Global Verge, said that, “Within 6 weeks, all South Africans will be able to have access to 20MBit Internet access.” A follow on post announced that the company “will be holding a conference call on Skype for all those interested in purchasing unlimited uncapped 20Mbps Wireless Internet for around $50 per month.”
The Missouri based Global Verge (http://www.globalverge.com/) describes itself as a ‘company formed with one goal; help make the world a better place.’ According to Global Verge their business model is to allow ‘individuals and companies to purchase products at wholesale and sell any or all of these products from a retail store, matched with one of the fairest compensation plans ever designed.’
Global Verge is essentially a multi-level marketing business selling a variety of products, including travel vouchers and power saving equipment. According to Brossy the company is a reputable international business networking organization, and she stated that the South African Government had already purchased 1 000 of the Global Verge Pow-R-Save products.
The uncapped 20 Mbps Internet service and mobile voice service are two new products launched by Global Verge, which has partnered with Buzzirk Mobile to bring consumers its unlimited mobile voice offering.
Wireless hubs will be created
Brossy said that Global Verge will assist local agents to set up wireless hubs to which consumers will connect. These hubs will in turn be connected to the Internet via satellite, or potentially fibre. According to Global Verge the network will be built using money from local investors to which significant return on investment is promised.
It is further understood that the Global Verge agents will be paid $ 35 per month for each Internet customer they sign up, effectively leaving Global Verge with $ 15 per month to provide backend satellite connectivity and wholesale service support.
According to a Global Verge representative the wireless hubs will require antennas ranging in size which will in turn influence the coverage of the wireless hub. Brossy said that the wireless hubs will have a range of up to 40 kilometers.
A mobile voice service, using a UMA phone, is also planned which will allow unlimited phone calls to any number in the world for $ 100 per month. According to the company this phone service will work in any Wi-Fi zone from the company, and will fall back on ‘their network’ in areas where there is no Wi-Fi coverage.
Brossy said that their lawyers are currently putting the finishing touches on the new planned service and network rollout. Consumers can expect the first offerings to become available within the next two to six weeks according to Brossy.
Skepticism and warnings from local consumers and experts
Local consumers and telecoms experts are however very skeptical about this potential new service. Satellite connectivity is typically very expensive, and to provide a wireless hub with a 20 Mbps satellite connection is costly. Claims of 20 Mbps non line-of-sight wireless connectivity at a distance of 40 kilometers are also very suspect, according to a wireless networking specialist.
Consumers’ feedback regarding this potential service was also none too complimentary. “I don’t believe it, sorry”, “Sounds hectically dodgy” and “Wish I could believe that” are some of the comments on the potential service, for more click here: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=168069
One telecoms expert, who asked to remain anonymous, said that he strongly advises potential investors and agents to do their homework before investing any money in business projects like this one. “I would advise any investor to see a working prototype of the service first before even considering investing in such a venture,” he said. “I have seen many projects of this nature which never materializes.”
Brossy however said that she is not surprised by the skepticism from both industry players and consumers considering the current Internet market in South Africa. Brossy said that she is confident that these services will be launched successfully in South Africa, and mentioned successful case studies in both Canada and Australia.
No real information could be found on the Internet when searching for the case studies of these services in Australia and Canada, but Brossy provided the website “Pathways To Abundant Living” – http://riseall.com/ – as ‘one of the top Aussie websites’.
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