While WiFi continues to grow, unfortunately its connectivity is far from ubiquitous in SA and the rest of the continent.
So says Michael Fletcher, sales director for Ruckus Wireless sub-Saharan Africa, who points out that this results in it being positioned by many analysts as a complementary technology to GSM connectivity until such time as it is more pervasive.
"Yet, for a continent driven by mobility, WiFi presents a significant opportunity to aid in the socio-economic development of people," says Fletcher.
"We all know that fixed-line access is virtually unheard of in rural communities and people rely on their mobile phones for anything from staying in touch with loved ones to doing business. Having WiFi networks in place in these communities suddenly present people with options they would not normally have had due to the high cost and limitations of other broadband solutions."
However, he points out that the regulatory environment in SA is opening up and starting to promote the development of WiFi networks across the country.
"Already, we are seeing more consumer-facing businesses such as restaurants and hotels providing customers with free access. What is needed is to expand the net and make WiFi even more broadly available to people from all walks of life," Fletcher notes.
According to Ruckus Wireless, even though WiFi is not a new technology, it has a fundamentally important role to play in providing people, especially those in developing countries, with reliable access to broadband connectivity.
A recent Informa White Paper examining how smartphone usage is changing, points out that the WiFi has cemented its position as the world's most successful wireless technology thanks to its widespread adoption across a host of devices and its role as the dominant carrier of data traffic on smartphones.
Another study, by Cisco, notes that by 2018, 33% of mobile traffic will be offloaded onto WiFi/small cell networks, up from 20% in 2013. "Offload" refers to traffic from dual mode devices and supports cell and WiFi connectivity, excluding laptops, over WiFi and small cell networks.
Offloading occurs at the user or device level when one switches from a cell connection to WiFi and small cell access.
"Given that World Telecommunications and Information Society Day took place on Saturday, 17 May with the theme of broadband for sustainable development, it makes sense to examine how a cost-effective technology such as WiFi can be used in Africa to help bridge the digital divide," says Fletcher.
He notes that WiFi does not have a spectrum requirement from the regulators so it is much faster and cheaper to deploy than many other wireless technologies.
"Even in South Africa, we are seeing the mobile operators educating customers on the benefits of using WiFi for their mobile data requirements with GSM being positioned for voice," says Fletcher.
The Informa White Paper also found that the average monthly WiFi usage on 3G devices increased 24% between January and December 2013, to 3.2GB per user. This usage also reflects how more people are relying on WiFi connectivity for data-intensive services.
Despite the relative ease of deploying Wifi networks, companies can benefit the most from partnering with specialists who understand the intricacies of implementing the technology.
"Each WiFi implementation is unique and requires subtle changes in network infrastructure. So whether it is rolling out a community-wide network or connecting the head office of a company, solutions need to be customised to suit the environment.
"WiFi access has so much potential to shape the business and consumer landscape in South Africa and other developing countries. It only makes sense to implement the technology in such a way to draw the most benefit from it," concludes Fletcher.
Share