Wi-Fi opens up the world
WI-FI has a lot going for it as the technology is embedded in more than 100-million PCs and laptop computers.
Mobile device manufacturers are also building Wi-Fi capabilities into their latest models, including Apple with its iPhone.
“Wi-Fi is a cheaper communication medium than 3G,” says Justin Spratt, manager of fixed mobile convergence and hotspot solutions at Internet Solutions.
This is because Wi-Fi is based on open standards and is not subject to expensive licences as 3G is, and it is a lot less expensive to deploy, he says.
“Wi-Fi provides faster throughput at an average of 10 megabits per second compared with up to 500 kilobits per second with 3G.”
Actual connectivity speeds will depend in each case on how many users are accessing the service.
About 300000 Wi-Fi hotspots have been set up globally, including 100000 in Europe.
In SA there are about 1000 hotspots, including 450 operated by Internet Solutions, which is committed to increasing this number to 900 by the end of this year.
The Under-Serviced Area Licensees are building Wi-Fi hotspots in the townships and in underserviced rural areas, among other moves to offer cheaper VoIP based voice services.
“The number of Wi-Fi hotspots globally is growing at 100% a year and they will eventually be as ubiquitous as 3G.”
Dual-mode mobile phones are now available that allow users to roam between the mobile networks and hotspots that have Voice over IP (VoIP) capabilities, enabling them to make calls over the internet.
IS is offering a service that allows customers to do this from any of its hotspots, in some cases at 75% less than a cellular call, by having a software application SMS sent to their mobile phone.
In Europe mobile operators like T-Mobile are signing roaming agreements with Wi-Fi operators to allow their customers to connect to the internet and make VoIP calls from hotspots while travelling in other countries, instead of making calls over the cellular networks, which is expensive, because the European Union is forcing mobile operators to bring down their local rates and they are making up their revenues by charging a premium to foreigners.
“There is a massive demand for business executives to have broadband connectivity while they are travelling overseas.”
Overseas, mobile and fixed-line operators are offering consumers the option of setting up a wireless home network, like a hotspot, that connects to their infrastructure over an ADSL line.
An indication that the same is likely to happen in SA is that Vodacom has recently acquired hotspot operator WirelessG.
Loading ...