Wireless: The end of the world as we know it

Johannesburg, 16 Sept 2003

Will wireless Internet access, or WiFi, mean the end of the world as we know it? This is the question Steve Nossel, Intel`s GM for the Africa region, attempted to answer in his opening presentation at Internet Week this morning.

Internet Week, which is taking place in Rosebank, sees industry leaders gathering to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the Internet, its development and the way in which it can and will change the way that Africa operates.

According to Nossel, there are certain key events that affect and change the world when they come to the fore. These are known as "tipping points", examples of which are issues such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, or the sudden rise in popularity of the transistor radio.

"Convergence will be the driver behind WiFi, because convergence drives mobility. We will soon reach a point where all devices have the ability to compute, and all computers have the ability to communicate," said Nossel.

"WiFi is definitely a tipping point, as it drives so many other factors, like technology growth, productivity and the mobile lifestyle."

He said that just in terms of the productivity gains, WiFi is the way of the future. According to Nossel, productivity gains in the region of 20% can be expected, while the reduction in mobile PCs` total cost of ownership will be closer to 30%.

"The problems that WiFi has to overcome are first and foremost that of infrastructure and enablement, but there are other factors, such as security issues and the ability to co-exist with other technologies, such as Bluetooth.

"Of course, Intel cannot do it alone, which is why we have partnered with many other players across a broad spectrum, from hardware manufacturers and service providers to hotels and restaurants."

He said the most important drivers for WiFi adoption are accelerating its ease of use and creating awareness with the general public of its advantages, such as the ability to connect while on the move in airports, hotels and coffee shops, etc.

"Of course, in SA, we have a number of legal issues surrounding WiFi, which need to be cleared up before we can see a widespread uptake of the technology.

"Government needs to make sure that this legislation doesn`t slow down the adoption of WiFi, and it needs to invest in the technology or risk exclusion from the global information economy."