Continual advances in mobile data services attracting users
“Two years ago 3G data cards cost about R4000 and now cost about R2000,” says Pieter Uys, chief operating officer at Vodacom.
He says some of the latest laptops have built-in HSDPA and WiFi capabilities, allowing users to move between a wireless local area network environment in the office or at a hotspot and the mobile data network, without losing the internet connection.
Eventually users will be able to set up an option on their mobile device and it will connect to the cheapest or fastest network service, depending on the requirement.
Uys says more than 80000 customers are connecting to Vodacom’s 3G and HSDPA services with data cards, in addition to thousands using a laptop and a 3G cellphone to connect to it.
The company has recently introduced a USB version of the 3G/HSDPA data card that can be plugged into a PC or laptop.
Within a year maximum mobile data speeds will increase from 1,8 megabits per second (mbps) downlink and 384 kilobits per second (kbps) uplink with HSDPA to 3,6mbps downlink and 1,4mbps uplink with the new HSUPA technology.
The faster uplink speeds offered by HSUPA will provide much faster throughput for sending large data files and e-mail attachments.
One of the factors initially inhibiting the take-up of 3G and HSDPA was a shortage of cellphones capable of supporting the technology, but many are now available.
Some of these have larger memory capacity, full keyboards, bigger screens that display normal web pages and advanced battery technology for supporting mobile data.
Handset manufacturers are now using lighter-weight lithium polymer batteries that allow users to remain permanently connected to the internet for a full day.
One of the challenges of mobile and wireless communication is that it is dependent on radio spectrum, which is in limited supply globally and governments control the use of different frequencies.
“In SA there is enough 3G spectrum to last two to three years, but then we will need to supplement it with other technologies like WiMAX,” he says.
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