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Johannesburg - The expansion of LTE networks in South Africa is happening at too slow a pace, say Fin24 users.
LTE, or Long Term Evolution, is network technology that provides for faster mobile broadband speeds than the likes of 3G.
On Tuesday, telecommunications company Telkom announced plans to roll out its LTE Advanced (LTE-A) offering to 22 more suburbs in SA.
Telkom is promising speeds of up to 150Mbps on its LTE-A product.
READ MORE: Telkom to expand LTE Advanced network
Meanwhile, Cell C announced earlier this year that it plans to spend R8bn on building its LTE network in South Africa.
Cell C is the last major telecommunications company to launch LTE in South Africa as MTN and Vodacom launched the next generation mobile broadband offering in 2012.
READ MORE: Cell C to build R8bn LTE network
Operators, though, are strangled by government’s slow movement on broadcast digital migration which is expected to open up frequencies for faster mobile internet services, especially LTE and 4G.
Nevertheless, Fin24 users have still expressed their unhappiness over what they say is the slow pace of LTE deployment in South Africa.
Fin24 user B. Mkhwanazi said, “For something that was announced in 2012, I think the roll-out is moving at a fairly slow rate.”
“However I am optimistic and I am patiently waiting for all of the telecoms players (still waiting for Cell C's R8 billion infrastructure investment) to see them all on an equal footing, for competition's sake. Coverage is spotty at best. Time for them to put the foot on the gas pedal!”
Meanwhile, Fin24 user Philimon has criticised regulators in the country over mobile broadband coverage.
“This circus must stop. In fact, Icasa (the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) must obtain a court order to bar companies from pursuing LTE deployment when they don’t have blanket coverage of 3G and HSPA in most high density suburbs where their financial cash cows reside i.e. prepaid customers. Does upgrading the well heeled to LTE make sense when the majority of subscribers are on pulsating or intermittent Edge networks,” wrote Philimon.
Fin24 user Reon Kemp says that some parts of the country are also being ignored by LTE roll-outs. Telkom, for example, is only rolling out LTE-A in urban areas such as Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
“I see they all talk about where they are going to roll out LTE not one of them is talking about Eastern Cape. Are we not also supporting Cell C and Telkom?” Reon Kemp asked.
Fin24 user K de Kock also said that Telkom should focus more on its basic services first.
“I feel Telkom should provide a better basic service, before expanding certain areas. I live in Langebaan and am unable to have ADSL through Telkom,” wrote de Kock to Fin24.
Meanwhile, Fin24 user Ken Kyle says several urban areas even are missing out on LTE.
“What's the point in rolling out to further areas when some areas are not fully covered, example is Fairland in Johannesburg, where the top end from west of Kessel and north of 14th Avenue are not covered, this is a huge area,” Kyle wrote to Fin24.
Disclaimer: All letters and comments published in Fin24 have been independently written by members of the Fin24 community. The views are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent those of Fin24.
