3G and EGDE for MTN

24th June , 2004

Africa : MTN announced that it is ready for 3G. At an event held at MTN’s offices in Fairlands, the cellular operator showcased the potential of new broadband technologies, including 3G and EDGE, with applications such as live video streaming, video calls and gaming, amongst others.

MTN derives the highest revenue percentage from data services in South Africa, which was recorded at five percent for the year ending 31 March 2004. Additionally, MTN and its partners have invested in excess of R20 million in the testing of its 3G infrastructure. MTN has been piloting 3G, testing the user experience including video calls and optimising the reliability of the service. This included video calls conducted between Johannesburg and Cape Town, as early as May this year, with the first video call conducted between MTN staff in South Africa and Ericsson staff in Sweden on 24 November 2003. MTN has also been rolling out EDGE capable equipment, which will bridge the gap between current network capability and the possibilities of 3G.

As a network, MTN is 3G capable, however, to deliver the best possible 3G experience to South Africans, MTN needs to conduct continued trials with its customers to understand the relevance of 3G services. Additionally, there needs to be more competition of leased line provisioning, including self provision by mobile operators for the cost benefits of 3G to be realised.

Karel Pienaar, chief technology officer for MTN Group says, “MTN’s firm commitment to our consumers is a commercially ready solution based on customer needs. It is important that 3G is customised to the South African environment, and not just replicated from our Asian and European counterparts. As with all our previous technological and service innovations, MTN is assisting South African consumers in being ready for all future technologies. Similar to GSM bringing dial tone to the masses, we believe that broadband wireless will accelerate Africa into the information age.”

“The awarding of the 3G test licence by government and ICASA has enabled MTN to demonstrate its technological prowess and is a major step towards convergence and ultimately liberalisation of the telecoms market. Greater competition and access to broadband services is the key lever to delivering affordable services.”

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