The telescope will be by far the world's largest radio telescope, and is described as one of the world's most important international science projects.
SA and Australia are short-listed to host the SKA, and a site decision is expected next year.
If SA hosts the SKA, the project is expected to include an array of around 3 000 antennae spread over 3 000 km in at least nine African countries.
Wallace, who will be one of the speakers at the upcoming ITWeb Broadband 2010 conference, says if SA wins the bid, the SKA will have massive positive spin-offs for local science and technology.
However, because of the staggering data transmission requirements of such an array, “local broadband infrastructure and international connectivity to Africa will have to improve exponentially to meet the challenge,” Wallace says.
Wallace will elaborate on the KAT-7, MeerKAT and SKA projects, and how broadband underpins the success of such telescopes, during the ITWeb Broadband 2010 conference, at The Forum, in Bryanston, on 5 and 6 October. For more information on the event, click here.
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