Mascom launches 4G technology

KEIKANTSE LESEMELA
Correspondent | Thursday June 14, 2012 00:00

The service carries distinctive features such as better coverage, faster speed and less latency.Speaking at a stakeholder briefing held in Gaborone this week, Jose Viera Couceiro, Mascom CEO said the company remains convinced that information communication technology (ICT) and internet use present great possibilities for Batswana.

'We believe that ICT provides a golden opportunity for Batswana to generate income, combat hunger, ill-health and most importantly, enhance literacy,' he said.'We are pleased to be the first to bring to Botswana the latest generation of mobile technology, the 4GLTE and in fact, also one of the first in the SADC region,' said Couceiro.  He said this would not only ensure that Mascom remains competitive but that Batswana remain a part of the fast evolving technology world.Mascom  will be the first  to introduce the first 4G LTE pilot in Botswana. MTC of Namibia is the first operator in Africa to commercially roll out the 4GLTE on May 2012.

The 4G technologies provide mobile ultra-broadband internet access to laptops with USB wireless modems, smart phones and other mobile devices. The 4G LTE technology provides ten times the speed of 3.5G network.Mascom public relations officer, Barbara Tshipana said they are done with their preparations and expect to roll out the technology in the next few months.'We are just waiting for BTA (Botswana Telecommunications Authority) to give us a platform,' she said.   Thari Pheko, BTA CEO, said the authority is concerned with the low level of internet penetration in Botswana. He said at less than 10 percent, the level of internet penetration in the country is a major concern compared to other countries of similar economic profile.

'We believe that this figure does not capture mobile internet, which is the latest trend that is growing very fast.Therefore developments such as the one we are witnessing will be vital in increasing levels of internet penetration in this country,' he said. He emphasised that the development of the ICT sectors is an immense task that requires all stakeholders to work in the quest to transform Botswana into a regional ICT hub.  'To date the government has invested heavily in high capacity undersea cables in the east and west coast of Africa to increase bandwidth capacity in a bid to advance Botswana towards the information age,' he said. BTA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, recently awarded a tender for the development of a national broadband strategy that will provide a holistic and coordinated approach to supporting and enhancing the broadband eco-system of ICTs in Botswana.