Tanzania to go Wireless

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Redline wins national WiMAX network deal in Tanzania
-- Hotspot, Redline Communications and RapidCloud to install WiMAX Forum Certified™ network to cover six major centres --

Toronto, ON, November 14, 2007 -- Redline Communications Inc. ("Redline") (TSX and AIM: RDL), a leading provider of standards-based WiMAX access and broadband wireless infrastructure products, today announced that Hotspot Business Solutions ("Hotspot"), a regional telecommunications provider in Tanzania, has selected Redline's RedMAX products for the country's first national WiMAX network.

Hotspot will launch the first phase of its WiMAX network, on November 15th, delivering commercial WiMAX services to Dar es Salaam, the country's premier commercial centre, and Mwanza. The first phase will also include the deployment of a RedMAX network in Arusha in December 2007. Hotspot expects to increase the number of its subscribers in these regions by up to 60 per cent over the next two-years. The second phase of the Hotspot RedMAX deployment will begin in January 2008, and will bring WiMAX services to the capital city of Dodoma, as well as Morogoro and Zanzibar. With its six-city WiMAX network, Hotspot will be able to deliver high quality voice, video and data internet services to government agencies, corporations, educational institutions, and residents across Tanzania.

"This is a great milestone in Tanzanian history. By launching WiMAX in the region, we have become a catalyst for positive change," said Emmanuel Nyaki, Chief Executive Officer of Hotspot. "With Redline's extensive experience installing OFDM and WiMAX systems, we will be able to quickly deploy our network and deliver revenue-generating broadband services. In addition, with Redline's solution, our network can support a much greater capacity of subscribers than with other technologies, allowing a much faster return on our investment – a return we hope to realize within the next eight to 10 months."


Hotspot selected Redline after a comprehensive review of four leading WiMAX companies. Under the terms of the agreement, the Hotspot WiMAX network will be closely managed and coordinated by RapidCloud Technology (Pty) Ltd ("RapidCloud"), a Premium Redline Certified Partner and major systems integrator that provides local logistical and post-sales operational support to the Hotspot and other RedMAX network installations in the East Africa region. Hotspot and RapidCloud have previously installed Redline's AN-30e to connect Hotspot's existing satellite network.


"Hotspot is the latest example of a company that has trialed Redline's products and chosen RedMAX for its wide scale WiMAX commercial deployment in a fast-growing emerging market," said Kevin Suitor, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Redline. "We expect that with its professional network planning and solid business model, Hotspot will join the many RedMAX customers with commercial deployments that are already generating revenues to fuel the further expansion of their networks."

"Wireless broadband service providers must balance their customers' expectations of high-quality broadband service against the reality of its cost," said Malcolm Clark, Managing Director, RapidCloud. "With RedMAX, Hotspot meets its customer expectations, while avoiding expensive infrastructure investments, allowing for more growth and deployment opportunities."


To celebrate their WiMAX launch, Hotspot is hosting a press conference on November 15th, 2007 at 6:45 pm at the Kilimanjaro Kempinski hotel in Tanzania. At the event, the following persons will be available to provide information on the Hotspot RedMAX deployment:

Daniel Noni, Operations Manager, Hotspot
Simon Wilder, Managing Director, Europe and Africa, Redline
Malcolm Clark, Managing Director, RapidCloud


My Take:
- If this were to go down as planned Tanzania will make that extra leap towards digital community and make a stride in communication transformation of the country.

- We will make a leap just like we did from analog to cellular phones where by most people in the country leaped the analog dial completely. This means, Tanzania who never had a dial up internet will skip the dial and head directly to wireless

- For us here at JF, the leap and the change will be of particular significance; new membership and exchange of ideas will reach more people than before.

- The only obstacle that the people who provide wireless service will have to overcome is the question of energy. Is there a way of charging laptops through solar power? Is there a way of chargin batteries through a fuel generator?

 

[Koba]

...indeed a good news!

 

[djwalwa]

...indeed a good news!

LAKINI SI MAHALI PAKE

 

[Koba]

LAKINI SI MAHALI PAKE

what do u mean bro? habari kubwa hiyo

 

[Bowbow]

Its a good news but can be a white elephant

 

[Mlalahoi]

Good news kwa hao wenye access ya hizo wireless computers.Lakini huko Kibondo,Nkasi,Gezaulole,Sekenke,Malinyi,etc what they want to hear ni maji,umeme wa kuaminika,barabara nzuri,madawa hospitalini,nk/ "maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania" in terms of unafuu wa maisha.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Mlalahoi, kama wanakijiji wenzangu wa huko wanaweza kuwa na cellphones.. believe me tutakachopigia kelele next ni kupugunza kabisa kodi ya kuondoa kodi ya mauzo kwenye vifaa vya elektroniki ya mawasiliano ili ifikie mahali laptop inapatikana kati ya shilingi laki tano, laki sita hivi na desktop zipatikane kwa urahisi pia...

 

[S. S. Phares]

Wana JF

This is indeed good news...vijana wa mjini wanasema ado ado tutafika...lakini kuna kitu kinaniambia mbona ghafla ghafla yaani press release Nov 14 na kuanza kazi Nov 15...mhh labda mimi tu nimekuwa mwoga sana wa ahadi kama hizi.

Natumai jamaa watafanya kweli...maana front line ya kweli ya kuleta maendeleo ni mtandao mzuri wa mawasialiano.

 

[Zalendohalisi]

Wawaulize wenzao Vodacom ambao WiMax inawatia homa kuiuza. Nakubaliana na Bobow kuwa this is another white elephant. Kwa mtu wa kawaida kama mimi CDMA ya Zantel nikichanganya GPRS/Edge ya Celtel ndizo nadunda nazo JF. Niki "scratch" shillingi elfu kumi kwa wiki nadunda kishenzi! Hizo broadband kwa matumizi ya mswahili wa kawaida ni sawa na kuua mende kwa SMG.

Subiri bei zao hapo ndipo penye mtihani. Hadi tutakapo pata bei below Tshs. 30 (thelathini) per 1MB then choice of technology will make sense to the common Tanzanian.

ZalendoHalisi

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Yebo.. hata mimi sijaelewa ili dili limekuwa likipikwa tangu lini. Na tatizo moja nililonalo ni kuwa sijui kwa kiasi gani serikali imehusishwa kwani pasipo kupata uhusiano wa ndani na serikali hasa miundo mbinu ingekuwa shida. Nitapanua hoja hii in few minutes ngoja nikawinde mbeva!

 

[KakindoMaster]

Ni vizuri sana kuwa na technologia hii huko hata vijijini maana hata wakiwa na telecentre model angalau wataweza kuangalia hata E-gorvenment directive and JF News bila matatizo provided kuna umeme/solar power katika sehemu hizo.

Actual WImax ni future na ni vizuri kuona angalau na watanzania watakwenda na wakati.

Na hapa ndipo tuta-test kama kweli mtandao unaweza kuleta maendeleo ya kifikra na kiuchumi kweli.Hila waambie pia nasikia Vodacom kule Tanzania wanaweka mitambo ya Wimax na technologia nyingine za (HSPDA kupitia mitandao yao). Hila sina uhakika na hili.

 

[S. S. Phares]

Good news kwa hao wenye access ya hizo wireless computers.Lakini huko Kibondo,Nkasi,Gezaulole,Sekenke,Malinyi,etc what they want to hear ni maji,umeme wa kuaminika,barabara nzuri,madawa hospitalini,nk/ "maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania" in terms of unafuu wa maisha.

Ado ado Mhe Mlalahoi hawa jamaa wamejiona mtandao ndio fani yao na sasa wanatueleza hapa kuwa wana malengo ya kutuwekea Wireless kama ilivyo huku ulaya (japo kwa miji michache).

Hatua yao hii kama wakifanikisha kama wanavyoahidi wengine watapata moyo na kukamata maeneo mengine kama hayo uliyoyaeleza. Kila mtu/jamii kwa nafasi yake tujenga nchi yetu hii. Ukiangalia yote haya yanatakiwa kwenda sambamba maana kwa kiasi kikubwa yanategemeana.

 

[S. S. Phares]

Wawaulize wenzao Vodacom ambao WiMax inawatia homa kuiuza. Nakubaliana na Bobow kuwa this is another white elephant. Kwa mtu wa kawaida kama mimi CDMA ya Zantel nikichanganya GPRS/Edge ya Celtel ndizo nadunda nazo JF. Niki "scratch" shillingi elfu kumi kwa wiki nadunda kishenzi! Hizo broadband kwa matumizi ya mswahili wa kawaida ni sawa na kuua mende kwa SMG.

Subiri bei zao hapo ndipo penye mtihani. Hadi tutakapo pata bei below Tshs. 30 (thelathini) per 1MB then choice of technology will make sense to the common Tanzanian.

ZalendoHalisi

Mhe Zalendohalisi

Unakumbuka Mobitel na Tri Tel zilivyoanza Tanzania, ni watanzania wangapi waliweza kumudu gharama zake. Sasa fananisha leo na Vodacom, Celtel na wengine.

Cha kuangalia hapa ni kuwa huu ni wakati mzuri, iwapo Vodacom wanashindwa kuuza product yao haina maana [pekee] kuwa demand hakuna au watu wenye matumizi nayo hawawezi kumudu gharama. Zaidi, nakubaliana na wewe kuwa wananchi wengi zaidi wakimudu basi faida halisi ndio inaonekana mapema zaidi. Isipokuwa tu kwa sasa walet technologia hizo gharama zitajirekebisha huko mbele ya safari. Binafsi nina pricipal moja kuwa ni bora huduma iwepo nishindwe kulipia kuliko niweze kulipia halafu huduma isiwepo kabisa.

Iwapo watatimiza ahadi zao huu ni muendelezo mzuri kabisa wa hao ambao wameshatangulia kama Vodacom na Zantel kwa technologia tofauti kidogo...wakati huo huo Kenya very soon wanaanza project yao ya Fiber Optic kutoka Emirates hadi Mombasa. Pengine miaka 5 ijayo TTCL au wengine wakichangamka tutakuwa tunabofya bofya hizi keyboards na kubadili website pages kwa spidi ya ajabu.

 

[S. S. Phares]

Ni vizuri sana kuwa na technologia hii huko hata vijijini maana hata wakiwa na telecentre model angalau wataweza kuangalia hata E-gorvenment directive and JF News bila matatizo provided kuna umeme/solar power katika sehemu hizo.

Actual WImax ni future na ni vizuri kuona angalau na watanzania watakwenda na wakati.

Na hapa ndipo tuta-test kama kweli mtandao unaweza kuleta maendeleo ya kifikra na kiuchumi kweli.Hila waambie pia nasikia Vodacom kule Tanzania wanaweka mitambo ya Wimax na technologia nyingine za (HSPDA kupitia mitandao yao). Hila sina uhakika na hili.

Mhe Kakindomaster

Habari za uhakika ni kuwa Vodacom tayari wameshaanza kula vichwa (kupata wateja) na huduma yao ya HSPDA.

Mtandano unaleta maendeleo ya kweli mheshimiwa, hili mbona halina mjadala tena..!! Kila kona ya jamii ina nafasi ya kuboreshwa kupitia uwepo wa mtandao mzuri; elimu, afya, kodi, biashara, ulinzi n.k. Majirani zetu waRwanda wameshangamua hilo na sasa wanakwenda kwa kasi kuboresha miundo mbinu yao ili wawe wa kwanza kupata faida kabla ya Tanzania, Congo, Burundi, Uganda n.k

 

[Mafuchila]

Nasikia ni asilimia 11 tu ya watanzania ndio wana access na umeme...!

 

[S. S. Phares]

Nasikia ni asilimia 11 tu ya watanzania ndio wana access na umeme...!

Inawezekana kabisa maana kuna watu wako Dar lakini wala hawaoni umeme ni muhimu sana kwao. Pengine, mambo kama haya ya mtandao yakipiga hatua yanaweza kuwavutia na kuona umeme ni muhimu kuliko ilivyo sasa.

 

[Mafuchila]

Inawezekana kabisa maana kuna watu wako Dar lakini wala hawaoni umeme ni muhimu sana kwao. Pengine, mambo kama haya ya mtandao yakipiga hatua yanaweza kuwavutia na kuona umeme ni muhimu kuliko ilivyo sasa.

Hata kama wataona umuhimu wa umeme hawawezi kuwa nao mpaka kwa fadhila za TANESCO.

 

[Dua]

Wawaulize wenzao Vodacom ambao WiMax inawatia homa kuiuza. Nakubaliana na Bobow kuwa this is another white elephant. Kwa mtu wa kawaida kama mimi CDMA ya Zantel nikichanganya GPRS/Edge ya Celtel ndizo nadunda nazo JF. Niki "scratch" shillingi elfu kumi kwa wiki nadunda kishenzi! Hizo broadband kwa matumizi ya mswahili wa kawaida ni sawa na kuua mende kwa SMG.

Subiri bei zao hapo ndipo penye mtihani. Hadi tutakapo pata bei below Tshs. 30 (thelathini) per 1MB then choice of technology will make sense to the common Tanzanian.

ZalendoHalisi

Hii deal nzuri sana inafanyakazi kama mobile connection tu. Kuna jamaa nawafahamu wana miaka karibu 3 wanatumia hiyo hapa London.Tembelea hapa uone ni bomba sana na bei poa.

Wireless broadband ni nzuri sana kwa UK wanacharge £10 kwa mwezi na baada ya mwaka moja wanakupatia mwezi moja free huna longo longo la lines. Unachagua either 10Mbps au zaidi. Ya £10 ndiyo hiyo na kama ukitaka zaidi ya hapo unaongeza dau. Kampuni kama sikosei inaitwa NOW walianzia china hawa. Wanakuletea modem yao ambayo ndiyo unaconnect kwenye computer yoyote ile na kuanza kutumia.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Nasikia ni asilimia 11 tu ya watanzania ndio wana access na umeme...!

tatizo la umeme wa Tanzania ni la kukosa maono tu na uongozi. Leo hii sisi tungeweza kusupply hata asilimia 90 ya wananchi wetu kwa umeme, uwe wa maji, upepo, au jua! Tatizo bado tunafuata traditional models za kusubiri bwawa, then kusambaza nyaya, then watu wapate umeme.

 

[S. S. Phares]

Hata kama wataona umuhimu wa umeme hawawezi kuwa nao mpaka kwa fadhila za TANESCO.

Kwa leo ni kweli, bila fathila za Tanesco mambo hayaendi (tena nasikia wameanza kuwalipisha wateja wapya gharama za vifaa).

Lakini mambo yanabadilika kwa kasi Tanzania sasa hivi, pengine in 10 years hata Tanesco [kama Tanesco] inaweza isiwepo...!!