Wireless technology came under the spotlight this week at the Miro 2011 IP Convergence Conference held at Vodaworld in Midrand.

An array of speakers elaborated on various aspects of operating in the wireless space, including Henk Kleynhans, the chairperson of the Wireless Access Providers Association, a collection of independent wireless access providers. Kleynhans explained that making wireless access more readily available could have a profound effect on the country as a whole and on the ICT sector in particular.

He explained that the World Bank had shown that an additional 10% broadband penetration in a country corresponded to a significant increase in GDP growth. Additionally, a more vibrant usage of wireless broadband in the country would provide a considerable boost to tech skills development.

Kleynhans elaborated that a common misconception existed that wireless technology was just about internet access, whereas in fact, wireless was applied in a variety of scenarios, including medical situations where large files had to be transferred in areas without land based connectivity. He pointed out that, while there was only 50 MHz available on the 2.4 GHz frequency as used by baby monitors, and cheap Wi-Fi wireless CCTVs, less than 1% of the 470 MHz to 520 MHz frequency range was currently being used. He likened this scenario to an entire village relying on one tap for water, while a lake of fresh, drinkable water was otherwise available.

Chris Sutherland, the head of training for Miro Distribution, added that many bemoaned the fact that only about 10% of South Africans had internet access. However, he pointed out that this also meant that there existed an abundance of opportunity to service the other 90% of the country which as yet, did not.

Lionel Whitecross, the managing director of Easyweb, a division of Xnet Internet, explained that wireless solutions afforded a variety of benefits that were particularly relevant to the country.
These included bypassing the impact that copper cable theft had on land-based internet solutions and telephony, and the existence of a smaller community of wireless providers who were “hungry for business and thus more likely to provide better service than monopolies”.

He admitted that adverse weather such as storms, lightning and rain did play a part in disrupting wireless connectivity, but pointed out that wireless downtime was not as long as disruptions on copper wire connected solutions.

The Miro IP convergence conference, presented by Miro distribution, was a one-day event aimed at informing industry delegates about new opportunities and solutions that were emerging from the convergence of audio and video technologies along with the internet. The conference was accompanied by an expo, where wireless solutions were showcased.


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