MTN`s high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) cards have arrived on South African shores, and are being distributed to the company`s channel stores.
This is according to senior communications manager Mandisa Korri, who says: "We are in the process of distributing the data cards to MTN service centres nationwide. I would expect they will be on sale by the end of the week."
Many thousand cards arrived in the first shipment, notes Brian Seligmann, senior manager for data and messaging, though he declines to reveal the exact number.
So far, 50 stores have received cards in a distribution programme that began last Wednesday, he adds.
Seligmann anticipates the price of the cards will be between R1 500 and R1 600, although he cautions that individual stores will be responsible for setting the prices.
Until now, only the corporate-focused Sierra Wireless AC 850 HSDPA cards have been available from MTN. These were brought out earlier in the year, and have been usable since MTN`s HSDPA network launch on 23 March.
MTN is also considering trade-in programmes for existing 3G users, he says.
The cards will be compatible with any laptop or desktop with a PC card adaptor.
Seligmann promises average downlink speeds of between 800 and 900Kbps, with peaks of 1.3 to 1.4Mbps, on the MTN network.
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