Telkom has taken the wraps off eight WiFi hotspot pilot sites and says it will have 100 such sites by the end of the year.
Current ADSL subscribers will have free access to WiFi for as long as the pilot project runs, says Hans van de Groenendaal, Telkom regional communications manager.
The sites are mostly at major hotels in Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban, says Van de Groenendaal. "We plan to roll-out the balance, a total of 100 sites, by the end of the year." Telkom is targeting airports, hotels, conference centres and shopping malls.
Van de Groenendaal says it is not known how long the pilot will run, but ventures that a commercial service can reasonably be expected early next year.
Currently, Telkom`s hotspots provide the wireless access component. An Internet service provider or the second network operator can provide actual Internet services, he says. Telkom is using its own infrastructure to provide this service.
Van de Groenendaal says the pilot project will give Telkom an idea of the market`s readiness for WiFi. After this initial phase, it will formulate a WiFi policy and the communications services surrounding it.
The legalities of WiFi hotspots are currently under review by the Independent Communications Authority of SA.
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