What we know about the adoption of wireless communication technologies in the rest of the world can easily be applied to Africa. But, in many of its countries, Africa still carries the burden of a hangover from early European influence in its telecoms space - the proponents of GSM, who not only established this standard where there previously was none, but continue to ensure its survival as one of the strongest contenders to other viable technologies.
Rick Rogers, country manager of Nortel Networks in SA, says the key driver of wireless technology today is a worldwide acceptance of the wireless lifestyle. "Users are driving services to wireless applications, with both voice and data traffic shifting to wireless networks.
"GSM is still a strong contender in Africa, with voice representing the `killer application` for cellular service providers. What is, however, needed in these markets, as well as in `untouched` territories, is a solution that can address both the current and future requirement for voice, as well as data services efficiently and cost-effectively."
The case for wireless connectivity can very easily be made in any developing market, but the challenge, says Rogers, is to address the dilemma of low teledensity with limited financing. While wireless makes sense in Africa because of its ease of implementation and the efficiency with which networks can be rolled out, getting people connected is only the most immediate objective.
"Basic telephony services have to be delivered, but the investment must also be future-proofed to ensure new services can be rolled out with a degree of confidence that there won`t be added costs, complexity and interoperability issues. Third-generation (3G) wireless network technologies can deliver on this promise, while ensuring that the statement, `wireless is the way to go`, is not merely paying lip-service to Africa`s telephony and networking needs."
For Nortel Networks, its CDMA portfolio will be the chief African contestant. "People want telephony, and CDMA offers the best converged way to deliver this. It can effectively circumvent the imbalances between African population areas as the same infrastructure would cater for power-hungry users while addressing the requirements of more rural communities. CDMA also offers large-area coverage and secures the delivery of future applications through high-speed mobile data services for video, MMS and Internet access.
"CDMA can provide the basic connectivity today by increasing teledensity for fixed subscribers quickly and efficiently, and provide for future services in the broadband space," says Rogers.
What is of key consideration is that data traffic is a significant profit driver in the global telecoms space, and already dominates fixed networks. As non-voice traffic starts emerging in the wireless arena, wireless applications will contribute more and more to global telecoms service revenue.
"While wireless is a growing profit driver for operators, it is also the most logical first infrastructure in developing markets. And CDMA, specifically, will ensure speedier provision of data and telephone services," Rogers adds.
"Today, wireless technologies enable mobility and reach-ability. We don`t call a place anymore; we call a person, with wireless voice services having already achieved mass market proportions. While the future is yet untold in terms of the extent to which our communications will be interconnected and how this will affect our lives, one certainty is clear: the next step in the wireless evolution is to offer speed, reliability and ubiquity, requirements that can be best serviced by 3G broadband wireless services," he says.
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Nortel Networks is an industry leader and innovator focused on transforming how the world communicates and exchanges information. The company is supplying its service provider and enterprise customers with communications technology and infrastructure to enable value-added IP data, voice and multimedia services spanning wireless networks, wireline networks, enterprise networks and optical networks. As a global company, Nortel Networks does business in more than 150 countries. More information about Nortel Networks can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com.
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