Bwired is an empowered telecommunications service provider that has a strong focus on answering the need for broadband ser vices, mainly in underserviced areas. It was formed after Ericsson South Africa was awarded the billion-rand Johannesburg Broadband Network Project in March last year. The first phase of the project began in April 2009 and should be completed over three years. The vision is to establish a citywide, high-speed broadband network that should ultimately stimulate socioeconomic development throughout the city.
Ericsson vertical market manager Rowen Chetty explains that Bwired was formed to create a company or brand that could be associated with the offered services, based on the build-operate-transfer model. In keeping with this, Bwired will be transferred as an entity back to the CoJ.
The company is made up of a collaborative emanating from a few small Internet service providers that have a history of delivering affordable Internet and broadband services to the Johannesburg market.
Ericsson president for the sub-Saharan Africa market unit Lars Linden emphasises the benefit of cheap broadband access to the previously disadvantaged and to the city in general.
“Our global experience has demonstrated benefits to society as a whole, making sizable contributions to the employment, health and education sectors, where broadband has been introduced as a societal norm. Bwired is poised to make these advantages a reality for the CoJ. At Ericsson, we are committed to innovating to empower the societies we live in and take great pleasure in being a part of a project that will oversee the deployment of broadband in historically disadvantaged communities, such as Soweto,” he says.
BWired MD Keith Kenneth says that people have come to regard information and communication technology as a right that should not be restricted by affordability. He adds that broadband is currently also being used around the world by communities to improve public safety and by governments to improve efficiency. This has resulted in more user-friendly government services and huge cost savings.
Chetty says that roll-out of the broadband network is planned to take place in a phased approach and will first be positioned to deliver broadband to underserviced areas. Once the network is complete, all areas in the city will receive access to the broadband network.
Johannesburg city manager Mavela Dlamini says that he believes that the vision to make broadband available in all corners of the city, from Diepsloot and Orange Farm to Soweto and Alexandra, as well as many other towns that fall within its jurisdiction, will soon be realised through Bwired. The company will create a new platform for local economic growth and social transformation in Johannesburg.
“With the increasing push from government at all levels to make more services available online, local governments will be able to use e-Government to deliver services and information to our citizens and customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he adds.
Chetty says that the costs of the broadband services to users are still being finalised, but a subsidy scheme is envisaged for underserviced areas. A decision was made to limit the use of machinery during the roll-out phase, which will create about 1 500 local jobs.
He adds that BWired’s broadband network will allow affordable broadband access and an open-access network. This will allow for additional competition in the telecommunications environment.
Many small businesses are using broadband to thrive in the global economy and Johannesburg will be no different. Mayoral Committee for Economic Development member Councillor Oupa Monareng says that the city is confident that Bwired’s delivery of the broadband network will allow small business to thrive and true entrepreneurship to be stimulated.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Jacqueline Holman, Martin Zhuwakinyu
Quelle/Source: Creamer Media's Engineering News, 29.01.2010
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