INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Sharing the internet with the world
Served by its internet subsea cable from Europe, SEACOM has progressively expanded its fibre Is South Africa ready network in South Africa since for 5G? 2009. This includes key routes SB We’re in the initial linking Johannesburg and Cape Town implementation stages. with Kimberley, Bloemfontein and As in the rest of the world, Durban. Alastair Currie speaks to 5G is an essential platform for realising the Fourth Steve Briggs, chief sales and Industrial Revolution. That in marketing officer, about turn has significant geopolitical evolving trends. and economic implications, since no one wants to be left
38
IMIESA May 2021
behind in the information management and communications space. Within South Africa, it’s been widely publicised that the major cellular network providers are carrying out 5G trials. To effectively roll this out will require a costly investment in new infrastructure. According to estimates, this will require an increase in the current base station densification by a factor of five to achieve the same amount of coverage provided by 4G.