While MTN has not publicised the recent upgrade of its 3G data network, ITWeb has learned that the entire data network is now 3.6Mbps capable.
Currently, broadband subscribers experience theoretical peak downlink speeds of 1.8Mbps. In reality, this translates to speeds of just over half of this.
MTN's senior manager of data and messaging, Brian Seligmann, speaking on the sidelines of VOIP World Africa in Sandton last week, said the 3.6 capability of MTN's high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) will not be "switched on" just yet.
This, he said, is because there is currently no business justification for offering a service of 3.6Mbps cellular broadband.
Provisioning a 3.6Mbps service is likely to be very expensive for the cellular operator. "Terminal availability is also an issue," he added.
Seligmann declined to commit to a date for the "switch-on". He stated: "We will turn on the higher uplink and downlink speeds when we believe it's appropriate."
The "uplink" part of his statement refers to MTN's publicised plans to introduce HSUPA (high-speed uplink packet access) to the South African consumer later this year.
Again, no further on-record comment is available on the issue of MTN's HSUPA plans.
Seligmann last year outlined ambitious plans to upgrade the 3G/HSDPA network to 3.6Mbps, then to 7.2, and finally to 14.4Mbps within the next two years. It is nearly a year since this statement.
MTN has achieved data revenue growth of more than 100% in the past year, as MTN's data business now exceeds R2 billion per annum.
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