Huge potential for 3G in Africa

As a logical evolution from the older 2G networks, 3G in Africa has enormous potential, and despite the fact that it has been a little slow in developing, it has the ability to provide connectivity and mobility - particularly for the business market - although as it takes off, it will also be about entertainment.

Martin Sanne, MD for mobile networks at Siemens Communications, believes there is certainly a huge opportunity as, for example, 3G networks use advanced modulation technology, which allows for more efficient use of the same spectrum. So even from a voice perspective, it is an improvement on what has come before.

"Most of the new handsets coming onto the market are dual-capable phones for both 2G and 3G networks, and as there is more uptake, so we will see the cost of handsets coming down," he says.

Sanne says he sees no reason why, in the medium-term, a 3G handset should cost more than a traditional 2G one, and that as these handsets become cheaper, so 3G services will - provided that operators offer the right packages - even begin to make inroads into the lower end of the market.

"I feel that in the mid-term, we can expect to see GSM running in parallel with 3G, but that as decisions are made to deploy future networks, these will all be 3G because of the advanced efficiency and capabilities such networks have," he says. "In terms of Africa, there is no reason why we should not be deploying an advanced technology such as this across the continent. In fact, provided the spectrum is available and the legislative issues are dealt with, there is an opportunity for Africa to leapfrog the 2G and 2.5G networks and go straight to 3G."