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Broadband wagon starts to roll

WE'RE FINALLY clambering aboard the broadband wagon. The number of South Africans accessing the Internet via broadband has grown more than 50% over the past year - a direct consequence of the increasing need for round-the-clock connectivity and improved availability of broadband. This is the key finding of research into Internet access conducted by technology consultancy World Wide Worx and global networking giant Cisco.

Most of the growth in fixed line broadband comes from small and medium enterprises upgrading to ADSL. This in turn has extended Internet access to more than 500 000 previously deprived people working in small offices.

Wireless broadband subscriptions have grown by 88% over the past year, against 21% for ADSL. Corporate users have been the major driver of that growth, through the deployment of 3G cards.

"Wireless broadband is neither cheaper nor better quality but it's more convenient and flexible - and it changes the way we think about where and how we use the Internet," says World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck. "The missing ingredients are the next generation of customer access equipment for those who are connected and affordable easy access for those who are not."

Cisco senior manager Reshaad Sha says: "Mobile broadband is a key enabler of the 'Connected Life' - services that can be consumed anytime, anywhere, on any device and by anyone. South Africa is moving towards feature-rich Internet services that most developed countries are already enjoying."

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