He says the mix of satellite and wireless networks could have a significant role to play in townships, rural towns and farming communities within SA. This would provide a quickly implemented and low-cost interim alternative during the years it will take to roll-out broadband to all the telephone exchanges around the country.

WiFi, the wireless local area network (LAN) technology, is suitable for local connectivity. Over longer distances, such as connecting an office or isolated wireless hot spot to the Internet backbone, something different is required, and this is where satellite adds to the solution.

"If SA is really serious about bridging the digital divide, it has to open its mind to satellite, WiFi and other alternative technologies to extend the considerable benefits of broadband Internet – in education, health, small business support systems – to communities outside the major cities," Ingle adds.

African countries which are inhibited in their access to the Internet, either because of the cost or unavailability of broadband technology, can follow the example of some European governments that have explored alternative ideas.

Ingle says many European Union countries feared their rural citizens were being disadvantaged because high-speed land-based telecommunications were concentrated mainly in densely populated urban centres.

This has sparked various initiatives to serve rural communities that will enable them to compete with their 'wired' urban neighbours and curb the flow of people seeking businesses or work opportunities in the cities.

Wireless 'hot spots' are springing up in airports, conference centres and other public places around the US and Europe, both as commercial services for travelling businesspeople, and also as free services run by magnanimous Internet users with bandwidth to spare.

Less high profile, but happening in disadvantaged areas such as Ireland's rural southwest, wireless LANs are being combined with satellite terminals to deliver high-speed Internet to nearby homes and offices.

In Canada, the Toronto-based Canadian Hearing Society plans to deploy satellite-enabled WiFi hotspots to provide internet services to serve businesses and residents of rural communities, as well as the needs of deaf and hearing-impaired people throughout the western hemisphere.

France, with its influential rural population, is also integrating wireless networks and satellite as part of its broadband strategy, with France Telecom providing three satellite services to fill in gaps in its terrestrial coverage.

Ingle says satellite companies have already launched satellites which cover Africa, the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and the Far East and southern Africa could take advantage in using those satellites to service some of its most immediate broadband needs.

The technology to provide Internet-via-satellite is readily available and well proven. The latest high-performance satellites have minimised the size and cost of satellite terminals, and service providers are learning to balance contention ratios against the comparatively high cost of satellite bandwidth. In the short-term, satellite broadband will continue to carry a price premium over conventional communications and, for those that live near broadband-enabled exchanges, terrestrial broadband is normally the best option.

"However, for 'previously disadvantages communities' still waiting for telephone circuits, those communities will continue to be disadvantaged for years unless alternatives are seized upon," adds Ingle.

SA's schools need broadband access to ensure the next generation is educated and skilled for tomorrow's Internet-aware working environments. Farms, mines, tourist resorts and other local businesses outside the cities need broadband to thrive and prosper, ensuring the country's future.

Source: BY Roy Ingle, Europe Star