BizNet Xpress, a fixed wireless access solution for business, will be available at the end of February, says Sentech.
The offering was unveiled in November and was intended to be commercially available at the beginning of January. However, Sentech says there have been delays in delivery of the hardware that needs to be installed at customer premises to allow them to receive the service.
The company says BizNet Xpress is a carrier-class broadband IP/MPLS network designed to offer an alternative to traditional wired access media.
Sentech product development manager Georg Wenhold says BizNet Xpress is the first of a portfolio of BizNet services to be aimed at SA's medium to large enterprise sector.
The BizNet network uses Cambridge Broadband's VectaStar base station and customer premises equipment in the 3.5GHz band. UK-developed Cambridge Broadband's VectaStar is a carrier-class broadband wireless platform designed for telecommunications and mobile operators.
Last year Marcel Steyn, Sentech's marketing and sales division manager, said BizNet Xpress, which had been tested for a "considerable period", will cover the Gauteng, Cape Town, Durban and Nelspruit areas.
Wenhold says before launching the service, all systems that have been upgraded or added for both operations support systems and business support systems need to be tested extensively, to ensure proper operation.
"We have been doing so over the past months and are now making a few final changes based on the feedback received during the testing period," he says.
Providing a choice
Wenhold says in terms of the new offering, Sentech will compete with Telkom and the second national operator, set to enter the market in mid-2006.
"We will be directly competing with Telkom's Diginet or leased line services, dedicated to serving medium to large enterprises as well as top corporate companies, and we are looking to take 10% of the market share over the next two years," he says.
In response to Sentech's 10% market share claim, Telkom spokesperson Lulu Letlape says: "It's encouraging to see the evolution of new services within this highly competitive environment of broadband. We support any initiatives that allow for the development of choice within this very price-sensitive market."
Wenhold says both businesses and service providers will benefit, as they will have a choice in the market.
"With choice comes competition, which should see prices for services come down in the near future and service delivery improving.
"We plan to expand the service offerings within the BizNet portfolio to be able to compete against not only dedicated or leased lines, but ADSL as well in the near future."
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