Municipal broadband uptake grows

Johannesburg, 20 Sept 2007

A third of all local municipalities in SA have plans in place to implement their own wireless broadband networks within the next year.

This emerged from recent government research conducted by ForgeAhead, which found local municipalities are showing a stronger uptake of broadband services than ever before.

ForgeAhead consulting head Adrian Schofield says the research indicated two-thirds of municipalities rely on ADSL or ISDN for connectivity, but 32% of all local councils are looking to move to wireless technologies, with 33% already doing so.

However, metropolitan areas are further along with their broadband uptake. Schofield says all of the major metros have plans in place, and in some cases have already begun implementing plans, to build their own private broadband networks utilising fibre optic and wireless technologies.

He notes there are two objectives for metros to become connected, the first being better connectivity between its own sites. The second is to achieve greater connectivity for businesses and residents, "thereby increasing the level of economic activity".

Schofield says the provision of broadband networks at local government level will generally be sourced from one of the commercial providers active in the market. In other cases, emerging wireless technologies, such as WiMax, will be used to create distinct private networks.

"It's clear that local governments have a strong interest in utilising the mechanisms that exist in South African legislation, that allow them to self-provision broadband networks. If those networks in turn end up benefiting that local government's citizens, all the better," he concludes.