[AfrICANN-discuss] Telkom SAT-3 monopoly ends

[Eric M.K Osiakwan]

Telkom SAT-3 monopoly ends
BY STAFF WRITER , ITWEB

[ Johannesburg, 10 April 2008 ] - Neotel says it has gained access to  
the SAT-3 landing station, allowing it to bring international  
services to SA users that are not carried over Telkom's national  
network, at any point.

“Access to the landing station means that Neotel can now carry  
traffic from Johannesburg to London on its own network”, says Neotel  
CTO Angus Hay.

ICT stakeholders have previously noted that it costs as much to  
transport traffic from London to the landing station as it does to  
transport it from the landing station, in Melkbosstrand, to  
Johannesburg. In some instances, prices between the landing station  
and Johannesburg were even higher.

Customers using Neotel's NeoLink Global will receive an end-to-end  
service that makes exclusive use of the second national operator's  
network for connectivity within SA, says Hay.

Neotel has deployed its own equipment at the Melkbosstrand and  
Mtunzini landing stations of the SAT-3/SAFE undersea cable system,  
connected directly over its own high-availability optical fibre  
routes into its national network, he says.

He adds that Neotel obtains international capacity on SAT-3 (routes  
to the West) and SAFE (routes to the East) at competitive rates, and  
is able to pass the cost benefits on to customers of services that  
depend on these routes. However, he did not clarify as to whether  
there will be price cuts in the immediate future.

Neotel will also able to offer long-term capacity on the SEACOM  
cable, which will be available from June 2009, linking SA to Europe  
along the East Coast of Africa.

“For the first time, users of international leased line  
telecommunications services out of SA have a real choice of carrier,  
rather than just of re-seller, enabling them to switch to their  
preferred provider, or simply to implement redundancy to reduce their  
business risk,” Hay says.

Neotel has previously noted that it would launch its services to  
consumers this month. The second national operator will have a phased  
approach, beginning with metro areas.

Meanwhile, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) is  
in the process of finalising regulations prescribing essential  
facilities.

ICASA also calls for interested parties to submit written comments on  
the draft regulations in December.


Eric M.K Osiakwan
ICT Integrator
Internet Research
www.internetresearch.com.gh
emko at internetresearch.com.gh
42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North
Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 2031
Fax: +233.21.258811
Cell: +233.24.4386792



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