One LTE network for cheaper broadband in SA: Cell C CEO
Cell C CEO, Alan Knott-Craig says that it makes sense for South African operators to pool resources and build a single, national LTE network to provide affordable broadband services.
Knott-Craig said that operators should set up a consortium, which should get access to suitable spectrum at an affordable rate to build this wholesale LTE network.
“Operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can then compete on a retail level using affordable wholesale access to this national LTE network,” said Knott-Craig.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Department of Communications (DoC) are currently grappling with how to hand out valuable LTE spectrum (2600MHz and 700/800MHz), but Knott-Craig said that the battle for spectrum can be avoided with a single wholesale LTE network.
The Cell C CEO said that the spectrum resources – in both the 2600MHz and 700/800MHz spectrum bands – can be pooled for this network, which will lower the costs and ensure the best possible service levels.
Knott-Craig said that there is a growing need for data in South Africa, and that wireless services will be the main technology to provide residential customers with fast, affordable broadband.
To keep the cost to consumers down, the input costs to build an LTE network must be as low as possible. A spectrum bidding war and duplicate networks will significantly lift the input costs to operators, which does not serve anyone’s purpose, Knott-Craig said.
Despite the fierce competition between the operators, Knott-Craig is confident that industry players can work together to make this happen. He said that everyone seems to be speaking the same language about an LTE network already.
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