Chair of communications regulator Icasa Paris Mashile on Tuesday expressed “fear” and “foreboding” over the ability of local mobile network providers to accommodate an influx of network traffic during the World Cup in 2010.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a breakfast function in Rosebank, Mashile said: “How many of you have been totally satisfied with your service while on the move? Current mobile services are not mobile, but portable, open to dropped calls.<\/p>\n
“It is because service providers are oversubscribed, which leads to dropped calls. It is like a taxi that can only accommodate 10 people, but overloads by squeezing 15 passengers into their vehicle,” Mashile said.<\/p>\n
“I have fears and foreboding for 2010,” he continued. “What happens if there is a serious accident and networks are all blocked? How will networks accommodate for all video messages when people want to capture footage of their favourite players scoring a goal? Perhaps there will have to be portable base stations on the move.<\/p>\n
“We have promised that we have the necessary infrastructure, so let’s hope we can deliver, but I am fearful,” Mashile said.<\/p>\n