Africa starts to leapfrog technology
Africa has started leapfrogging technology as some countries take connectivity to the next level by deploying fourth-generation (4G) technologies, as opposed to following the traditional step-up sequence of technology roll-outs.
Some operators were discussing ways of moving from the dominant second-generation (2G) technology straight to 4G in an effort to ensure affordable broadband in the shortest timeframe.
This was the view of Nokia Networks head of marketing and communications for the Middle East and Africa Adnan Kureshy, who pointed out that there were signs that many countries within Africa were skipping a technology step.
Earlier reports suggested that 75% of mobile subscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa would be on third-generation and 4G networks by 2019, covering 40% of the population. Angola, Nigeria and South Africa would boast the most subscriptions on long-term evolution networks in Africa between 2013 and 2019.
Meanwhile, speaking to Engineering News Online on the sidelines of the AfricaCom conference, in Cape Town, Kureshy cited Rwanda’s successful deployment of an affordable 4G network.
Earlier this year, newswire Reuters reported that Ghana became the sixth nation in sub-Saharan Africa to get the high-speed service when Surfline Communications, in conjunction with Alcatel-Lucent, launched its first 4G data network.
Kureshy explained that broadband was increasingly seen as a utility boasting several economic benefits and governments across the continent were examining the potential of public–private partnerships to establish superfast networks to leverage this.
The next-generation technology “plugs a gap” on a continent that has limited fixed-line communication networks, with 4G emerging as an attractive, cost-effective alternative providing the same quality as fibre.
Comments
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Rentech provides renewable energy products and services to the local and selected African markets. Supplying inverters, lithium and lead-acid...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
