The new network is capable of average download speeds of between 4 – 7 Mbps and upload speeds of between 2 – 3 Mbps. We tested Cell C’s new network in Hatfield, Pretoria using their speedstick USB modem, and achieve a very decent 8.98 Mbps download speed and 2.2 Mbps for uploading. This compared to our Telkom connection giving 3.14 Mbps download and 0.27 Mbps upload speeds.

 

Cell C’s new network will initially cover 62% of the population in the greater Johannesburg and Pretoria region, with 89% population coverage of the area planned by the end of January 2011. This would then cover areas currently not included such as Benoni, Boksburg and Roodepoort. 

 

“Johannesburg and Pretoria are difficult to cover and we needed to make sure that our network was tried and tested and ready for our customers before we pushed the button,” commented Lars P. Reichelt, the real CEO of Cell C.  “Since we started rolling out our new network across the country, we have been inundated with queries from Gauteng residents, wanting to know when we would be going live in this part of the country. I am happy to say that ‘speedcover’ is now attainable and the days of slow, unreliable and expensive internet are officially over!” 

 

In parallel to the launch in Jozi and Pretoria, Cell C also officially opened its new HSPA+ network nationwide for all existing Cell C customers. “Cell C customers that have UMTS 900 capable mobile phones or USB data sticks can now use Cell C’s superfast data connection and will experience much better voice call quality.” Details as to which handsets and devices support the new network can be found on Cell C’s website.

 

With the launch of its HSPA+ 900/2100 network Cell C also launched two unprecedented contract data offers, offering customers 2 GB per month at R149 and 5 GB per month at R289. In addition Cell C now also offers data bundles across its entire range of prepaid, ControlChat and postpaid packages:

 

 

Postpaid data customers who require more data can also purchase the 2 GB data bundle priced at R400 per month, with an in-bundle/out-of-bundle rate of 20c per MB.

 

Sales of speedsticks, contract packages and the new data bundles start on Friday, 19 November 2010 and will be available in 28 Cell C outlets in Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as Game, Makro and Dion Wired, Autopage, Nashua Mobile and selected CNA stores.  Products are also available at these outlets in other cities where Cell C has launched its new network.

 

“Now that our network is live in Johannesburg and Pretoria, we are well on our way to reach our target of 34% population coverage in South Africa by the end of 2010,” added Reichelt.  “We are fully committed to providing affordable and fast internet access to all South Africans, whether they live in a city or a rural environment.  We are working around the clock to cover 97% of South Africa’s population with HSPA+ 900/2100 by the end of 2011.” Cell C currently has 2000 transmitters and over 1600 km of fibre optic cable installed countrywide. As it stands now, Cell C’s HSPA+ network is covering 32% of SA’s population.

 

As part of its Johannesburg and Pretoria launches, Cell C also donated internet connectivity to two local schools.  Immaculata Secondary School in Soweto and Mamelodi Secondary School in Mamelodi each received a modem, 60 GB data bundle and wireless router to allow multiple users connectivity at the same time.