Once a luxury, connectivity has become the fourth utility. Along with electricity, water and sewage, services vital to economic and social development, connectivity is key to participating in our connected digital world. At a very basic level, this connectivity doesn’t necessarily allow the most advanced or high-tech technologies to have an impact, notes Mark Walker, associate vice president for Southern, Eastern and Western Africa at IDC (International Data Corporation). Today, your humble one-man band can market its business, interact with customers and conduct transactions using a simple smartphone and an internet connection. Problems arise and gaps appear when access is limited, when quality is poor, when costs are prohibitive, when security is questionable and when connections are unreliable. So how can we minimize these inhibitors?
Zoltan Miklos, General Manager, Network Planning, MTNFor many, it all starts with infrastructure deployment and spectrum allocation. But the high costs associated with deploying essential network infrastructure and delays in government spectrum allocation mean that some are able to access the pipelines that enable connectivity and others are not. But infrastructure is just one piece of the puzzle, says Zoltan Miklos, General Manager, Network Planning, MTN: “5G is enabled across multiple parts of the mobile network, from the radio access network to the mobile core network. So it’s a multi-layered conversation. The network starts with the phone. If you don’t have the right phone, you won’t be able to use the network or the features that have been deployed.” For Miklos, ensuring that people have access to the most efficient technologies – and know how to use them – is an important step in the right direction towards closing the digital divide.
The 5G is the answer?
SAP Africa’s telecoms industry value consultant Samantha Naidoo describes the rollout of 5G in South Africa’s urban centres as one of the most important technology events of 2021. According to Naidoo, 5G is the foundation on which many of the technologies and innovations of the future will be built. But can it alleviate our connectivity issues and improve digital inclusion? “5G is important because it maximises the use of available spectrum and provides a greater amount of connectivity to a wider audience,” says Walker. The amount of data we are currently generating as individuals and as an industry is growing exponentially. Networks currently lack the capacity to handle all of this information, which is why 5G is so valuable. But that doesn’t mean it’s a panacea, she says. Physical constraints and high costs mean there’s still a long way to go before 5G can have a real impact.
Nicholas Naidu, Executive Director, Strategy, Architecture and Technology Assurance at Vodacom Group Miklos agrees. 5G will only become a major economic enabler when there is sufficient spectrum to enable higher data capacities and lower latencies. “5G has huge potential, but it will not solve some of the fundamental problems that currently prevent people from accessing 4G, for example.” But this immaturity should not deter investment in 5G, says Nicholas Naidu, Executive Director, Strategy, Architecture and Technology Assurance at Vodacom Group. 5G will provide the connectivity we need to take full advantage of some really exciting and truly disruptive technologies, he explains. Now is the perfect time to accelerate our 5G deployments so we can remain competitive with the rest of the world.
Enabling industries
With ubiquitous connectivity, the public services needed to support smart cities will be digitized, enabling everything from predictive maintenance to better traffic management. Doctors will be able to perform surgeries without needing to be in the same room as their patients, and manufacturing will use connected devices to automate repetitive tasks and make their operations more efficient. According to Barbara Mallinson, founder and CEO of Obami, a digital learning solutions company that builds cloud-based learning solutions for organizations and schools, reliable, high-speed connectivity could also transform education. Connected technologies present us with an incredible opportunity to take learning beyond the confines of the classroom, she says, something we’ve seen happen with varying degrees of success during the strict coronavirus lockdowns. “I feel like Covid-19, for all the horror it’s caused, has a silver lining. It’s highlighted the gaps in our education system and highlighted what needs to change in the sector.” She believes things aren’t all doom and gloom. Today, more people are connected to the internet, data costs have fallen and there is a global understanding that e-learning is essential; it is here to stay and will have a real and significant impact. Just look at Sisanda Tech, which uses digital technologies and augmented reality (AR) to implement virtual science labs in schools that do not have access to expensive scientific equipment for experiments. Using Sisanda’s smart solutions and a smartphone or tablet, students can enjoy more hands-on learning experiences, such as conducting experiments, dissecting human organs or exploring the surface of Mars. From a retail perspective, network issues and poor accessibility often prevent individuals and small, medium and micro-enterprises from effectively taking advantage of formal banking solutions, explains Murray Gardiner, CEO of Bluecode Africa. Continuous and reliable connectivity allows consumers to pay simply and consistently and enables merchants to reap the benefits of digital by providing access to more affordable financial services.
According to the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association), there are 3.8 billion mobile internet subscribers worldwide, representing 49% of the global population. However, adoption is uneven. At the end of 2019, mobile internet adoption was 26% in sub-Saharan Africa, where almost half of the population lacks mobile broadband coverage. “We need to think outside the box when it comes to connecting those who are unconnected and excluded from participating in digital economies,” concludes Naidu. “This requires two things: telcos building networks to enable broad coverage and connectivity, and manufacturers developing smart devices with more features but at affordable prices. Studies show that increasing broadband penetration drives GDP growth, so expanding accessibility and connectivity can translate into real economic value.”
Connectivity 2.0?
While spectrum is scarce and infrastructure deployment costs are high, there’s plenty of room for smart alternatives. From white space technology for satellite TV and the internet to internet-connected balloons (a Google project that was recently scrapped), some of the biggest names in the tech industry are investing significant time and money into researching new and innovative ways to connect consumers living in hard-to-reach areas. While these efforts are exciting, their success and viability have yet to be proven.
A question of control
When there are major gaps in access, it’s important to take a hard look at who’s in control, notes Mark Walker, associate vice president for sub-Saharan Africa at IDC (South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation). For example, in the run-up to the 2021 elections, the Ugandan government chose to restrict internet access, a move he says was aimed at minimizing disruptions and maintaining the security . And they’re not the first to do so. Similarly, Twitter recently took the decision to permanently suspend former US President Donald Trump’s account after he repeatedly violated the platform’s rules. While perceptions of the two situations may differ, in both cases, corporations and institutions dictate who can speak and who can’t, Walker says. —Joanne Carew
Fostering Connection During Covid-19
It’s hard to imagine what we would do without the internet. This modern cliché has proven especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people around the world have been able to use their internet connections to stay entertained, informed and productive. This once unimaginable, now ubiquitous technology has been instrumental in creating a more connected world, and no one knows this better than Openserve: South Africa’s largest telecommunications infrastructure provider.
Pushkar Gokhale, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer at Openserve“With the arrival of Covid-19, we’ve been given a glimpse of what the future holds,” says Pushkar Gokhale, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer at Openserve. “Many of our emotional and social needs are being met through digital connections. This is especially true as the world embraces and adapts to online platforms.” The explosive popularity of apps like Zoom and the steady growth of social media platforms, which have become important tools for businesses, attest to this. With real-life interactions out of the question, people quickly turned to online connections, while businesses were forced to quickly adapt to remote working. This resulted in a massive increase in demand for fast, reliable internet. Gokhale explains that in response to the pressure to keep pace, Openserve has focused on three strategic priorities: “First, aggressively expanding our fibre footprint across South Africa. This is in line with the growing need for stable and reliable connectivity. As we do this, we are protecting the homes we pass through with fibre, making it easier and faster for consumers to connect to the internet when they order directly from internet providers.” Initiatives like these not only improve ease of access for seniors, but also provide a foundation for building future online businesses and connected homes. “I believe the second priority is to continue bringing new products and propositions to the markets, including improved speeds and better value propositions,” continues Gokhale. “Finally, during this pandemic, the importance of customer experience has once again become a priority. We are focusing on providing customers with the ability to access self-service resources and interact with Openserve directly through our digital channels. Openserve truly believes that connection and the ability to interact digitally are two imperatives that will drive the future of customer experience and growth.” This belief in customer service as a core pillar of its business has led Openserve to create an innovative support platform. The Openserve Connect app is a step forward in this regard, and Gokhale is excited about what it brings. “This is something very close to my heart and I must say it is a game-changer for fixed broadband network providers,” he tells us. “Essentially, the app puts self-service capabilities in the hands of the customer and allows existing customers to interact directly with Openserve. They can check their coverage, explore Openserve’s broadband network services and test their connection. A customer at home can check their network line and see if it’s up or down, as well as check their Wi-Fi speed.” This level of transparency appears to be a key part of Openserve’s strategy. “I think one of the key things we’ve added recently is proactively notifying customers of any network outages. In the coming weeks, we’ll also be offering customers the ability to track the progress of their claims and stay updated on any outages, as well as when technicians are out.” The app provides an easy-to-access digital channel for potential and existing customers, and Gokhale says we’re likely to see similar innovations from Openserve in the future. The company is also enhancing its fiber portfolio, offering improved speeds to meet the demand for fast connections. “As soon as the pandemic hit, it really underscored the importance of connectivity,” says Gokhale. “We’ve always been very confident in the value it brings to the customer, of course, but the pandemic has made that even more evident.” Connections that were once used primarily for video streaming and social media were now being overwhelmed by live video calls—whether for business meetings or family events—that use up much more bandwidth. With the shift happening not in a few homes but in thousands, an updated offering from companies like Openserve was needed. “We’ve doubled our speeds and also introduced symmetrical speeds across our entire fiber portfolio, which included free or discounted installations,” says Gokhale. Openserve doesn’t plan to stop there. “Throughout March and April this year, we’ll be rolling out further speed upgrades as well as pricing changes across our broadband product suite,” he continues. Gokhale emphasized that these changes are essentially about “making sure it’s easier for customers to connect and that there are no costs directly related to the value propositions for our partners. So we’re encouraging our partners and their customers to upgrade to higher speeds and better packages.” Even before the pandemic, it was clear that the world was becoming more digitally dependent. Covid-19 has only accelerated a process that was already underway. However, this technological leap could also serve as an economic lever, with those who cannot afford high-speed internet at home being left behind, without access to the digital economy. But Gokhale remains optimistic: “At Openserve, we are working hard to ensure the aggressive rollout of fibre optics not only in metropolitan areas, but also in underserved areas and smaller towns. We want to ensure that high-speed broadband is available to as many South Africans as possible.” Speaking about the rise of the booming digital economy, he says: “More and more businesses are looking to permanently shift to remote working or a hub-and-spoke model. What we have seen is that many customers are realising the importance of stability and the high data usage opportunities that a fixed connection offers, which puts Openserve in a good position.”
Openserve is connecting businesses and consumers to create solutions that matter. Schools and neighbouring communities are also a priority, as 21st century skills become a necessity for the modern learner. More than just a means of work and study, the past year has shown how the internet is shaping the way we communicate with our families, helping us share our most special moments even when we’re apart. Connectivity has become much more important than the ability to watch a favourite series or send a few emails from home: it now allows people to stay social and sane during one of the most challenging times in recent history. As South Africa’s largest fixed broadband provider, Openserve is constantly striving to improve the experience for every customer, as evidenced by its Connect app and the unprecedented level of control it will provide to new and existing users. As Openserve continues to expand its fibre coverage, more South Africans will be able to migrate from mobile data to fixed connections, saving huge amounts of money and creating a more digitally equitable country for all. The pandemic will eventually end, but it is unlikely that we will change direction from the increasingly digital path we are on. Openserve is there to guide the way, charting a course for the future.
