Internet provider iBurst is targeting the small business market through a promotion of its WiMax service.
The company is offering a free installation for businesses that sign a 24-month contract before the end of July. iBurst says it has 200 base stations live in the major metro areas, with plans to expand the network to 280 by the end of this year.
iBurst's WiMax package is pitched as a fixed-line alternative to Telkom or Neotel, with the solution bringing in both voice switches and broadband access over the network. According to the company, it will install the solution, including hardware, free during the promotion.
The offer could be a boon for many small businesses without the necessary outlay to pay the installation fees charged by the other subscribers.
“Whether customers deploy it as a replacement or a substitute for a fixed-line service, they will be pleased by the speeds, cost and reliability that our WiMax service will give them," says Steve Briggs, iBurst's commercial head.
It is one of the few WiMax solutions available in the country, because unused spectrum in the band is still under the regulator's thumb.
"iBurst WiMax is a perfect fit for small and medium-sized businesses that see the reliability of a service connection as their most important telecommunications need, and require dedicated and specialised customer service through one point of contact,” adds Briggs.
iBurst has run several promotions this year to get its WiMax solution into SMEs, the most notable being its price cut early this year.
Costs for a 512Kbps service with 5GB is now R690 per month, a cut off the original cost of R855. The 10GB package at the same speed costs R970 per month.
The faster solution, at 1Mbps with 5GB bandwidth, can be bought at R760 per month, down from the original cost of R995. An added 5GB (10GB) costs R1 040. Both offerings are shaped options, although the company also made cuts for unshaped bandwidth.
Most of the operators are targeting large corporate customers to gain access to new revenue streams and several have left out the SME. iBurst has in the region of 100 000 subscribers and will look at this untapped market to grow its reach.
Related stories:
iBurst MD resigns
R2bn new listing for iBurst
Share