Cell C 21 Mbps HSPA+ launched in Bloemfontein

Cell C today extended its 21 Mbps HSPA+ network to Bloemfontein, making it the second city after Port Elizabeth to gain access to the cellular providers’ new high speed mobile broadband offerings.

Cell C launched their 900 MHz HSPA+ network in Port Elizabeth two weeks ago, offering subscribers aggressively priced mobile broadband services with speeds of up to 21.6 Mbps.

“What is significant about Cell C’s network, is that the HSPA+ release 7 network is IP across all network elements. This is a first for Africa, and will be rolled out countrywide and not only in pockets.  The same Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology will be used across our entire network. It will be HSPA+ all the way from day one,” said Cell C CEO Lars Reichelt.

“The combination of R7 all IP networking along with the SDR technology will offer our customers a low latency, high capacity network that can evolve quickly as new standards are released.”

Reichelt said at the PE launch that the first phase of their HSPA+ network rollout, expected to be completed by the end of 2010, will cover approximately 34% of the South African population.

Reichelt explained that the network will be launched on a city-by-city basis and one more city will come “on-air” in September – widely speculated to be Durban.

Cell C made it clear that they will continue to expand their network rollout and aim to cover 67% of the population by mid 2011.

Nigel Hall, Cell C’s Deputy CEO, pointed out that while Bloemfontein is not fully covered at this stage, it plans to cover 90% of the city by the end of 2010.

Cell C’s mobile broadband packages will go on sale in Bloemfontein on Friday.

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