iPad Mini in October?

Despite speculation that Apple may be preparing for a double-whammy with the unveiling of both the next-generation iPhone and a smaller, low-cost iPad in a single event, new reports suggest the products will be unveiled separately. According to an AllThingsD report, several sources have confirmed the iPad Mini will make its debut in October, after the expected 12 September launch of the iPhone 5. Since both events are anticipated to be major launches for Apple, it stands to reason that they will be separate in order to avoid contending for media coverage.

The iPhone is also unquestionably Apple’s most important product (accounting for about half of the company’s revenue), and it has been widely noted that Apple has a lot riding on the successful launch of the iPhone 5.

Tech commentator John Gruber says in a blog post on the topic: “The more I think about it, the less sense it makes for the iPhone to even share the stage at the announcement with any other product. The iPhone is too big, too cool, and garners too much attention — and it’s in Apple’s interest to keep that attention undiluted.”

While initial rumours of an iPad Mini were discounted by many who believe it to be too far of a departure from Apple’s known product strategy, reports from major publishers including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Bloomberg (and indications from Apple’s supply chain), all support the rumours.

World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck says there is greater likelihood of Apple releasing a seven-inch iPad than of it not doing so. “The Kindle Fire made the first serious and real dent in Apple’s American market share, and that is where it responds most aggressively.”

Telkom ADSL speed upgrades and uncapped prices

Telkom will start to upgrade its “Up to 1024kbps” ADSL users to “Up 2048kbps” from 24 August 2012, free of charge, but for uncapped ADSL subscribers to take advantage of the higher speeds it will mean higher data fees.

The price for capped data is not charged according to speed, but the price of uncapped ADSL accounts varies depending on the speed of the account.

This means that current 1Mbps uncapped ADSL users will have to upgrade their account to a 2Mbps uncapped ADSL account to enjoy the higher access (line) speed.

MWEB

MWEB explained that current 1Mbps ADSL subscribers who wish to maximise the benefit of the new higher line speed upgrades will have the opportunity to upgrade their data product to 2Mbps.

“We won’t upgrade them automatically as there is a price difference. E-mail communication and outbound calls will be made to these customers to make them aware of this opportunity and their options,” said MWEB ISP CEO Derek Hershaw.

Cybersmart

Cybersmart MD Laurie Fialkov said that they will automatically establish whether a client’s line is syncing at 2Mbps, and will then upgrade the subscriber’s uncapped account to 2Mbps.

“We will inform the customer of this upgrade via e-mail, giving them the opportunity to downgrade should they wish to,” said Cybersmart CEO Laurie Fialkov.

Fialkov added that their 1Mbps uncapped ADSL pricing will be reduced from R375 to R299 per month from 1 September 2012.

Afrihost and Axxess

Afrihost recently introduced a new 2Mbps uncapped ADSL product, priced at R297 per month, but their uncapped subscribers will have to pro-actively upgrade their accounts because of the price difference.

“Unbundled ADSL Lines will be automatically upgraded without any change in price. Uncapped clients will have the option of keeping their existing products, or upgrading to the higher speeds,” Afrihost stated.

Axxess also said that their subscribers will have to pro-actively upgrade their uncapped accounts to take advantage of the higher line speeds.

Web Africa

Web Africa CEO Tim Wyatt-Gunning said that they are really excited about the upcoming speed increase and plan to pass on a host of savings to new and existing customers.

“With our current 1 Mbps Uncapped pricing being one of the lowest offerings in the market, we will be introducing a new ‘Up to 2 Mbps’ Uncapped offering to take advantage of the new line speeds which will be available on the 27th of August,” said Wyatt-Gunning.

“We have developed a tool to identify our users’ current line capabilities, so will be notifying our 1Mbps users to upgrade as soon as 2Mbps Line speeds are available to them.”

Openweb

Openweb CEO Keoma Wright said that they recently introduced new 2Mbps uncapped ADSL packages to compliment their current basket of products. “1Mbps clients can easily upgrade their service to 2Mbps,” said Wright.

“If we take our Vanilla Uncapped service level as an example, our 1Mbps Uncapped costs R179 and our 2Mbps solution costs R279 per month. For only R100 more per month a client will receive double the speed,” explained Wright.

Wright added that their new bundled ADSL packages will be launching soon, promising to offer Openweb’s clients further savings.

Internet Solutions

Sean Nourse, executive for connectivity at Internet Solutions, said that he believes the decision on what is best for the client needs to be left to the client.

“We will maintain our current 1Mbps service, as well as the 2Mbps service we introduced a few months ago so that clients who want to match their spend to their requirements will still be able to do so,” said Nourse.

Pricing difference

The following table provides an overview of the pricing difference between the 1Mbps and 2Mbps uncapped ADSL accounts.

Uncapped ADSL price cuts

MWEB cut its 10Mbps uncapped ADSL rates last week, and also introduced a new 2Mbps uncapped offering in anticipation of Telkom speed upgrades in August 2012.

This move by MWEB followed many price cuts and new services by Internet Services Providers (ISPs), including Afrihost, Web Africa, Cybersmart, and Axxess.

These price cuts come on the back of Telkom’s 30% reduction in wholesale ADSL (IPC) rates in April.

The new 2Mbps uncapped ADSL products were launched in anticipation of Telkom’s planned ADSL speed upgrades, where 384kbps subscribers will be bumped up to 1Mbps, and 1Mbps ADSL lines will be upgraded to 2Mbps.

This raises the question of how the different ISPs compare when it comes to uncapped ADSL rates. The following table tries to answer this question for the country’s major ISPs.

Afrihost slashes 10Mbps uncapped ADSL pricing

Afrihost announced today (21 August 2012) that it has cut the price of its 10Mbps uncapped ADSL service, and has launched a 2Mbps uncapped ADSL product at an aggressive price.

This announcement from Afrihost comes amidst Telkom’s plans to start upgrading its ADSL speeds this week.

Telkom will start upgrading its “Up to 1024kbps” ADSL users to “Up 2048kbps” from 24 August 2012, and will start upgrading its 384kbps ADSL users to 1Mbps from 1 October 2012.

Afrihost uncapped ADSL

Afrihost has cut the price of its 10Mbps uncapped ADSL service from the previous R997 to R797 per month.

Afrihost has also introduced a new 2Mbps uncapped ADSL product, priced at R297 per month.

“We chose to be prudent and await the official roll-out schedule for Telkom’s upgrades, rather than make an early announcement in line with competitors. In this way we have ensured the best possible prices (and savings) for our clients,” Afrihost said in a press statement.

“Unbundled ADSL Lines will be automatically upgraded without any change in price. Uncapped clients will have the option of keeping their existing products, or upgrading to the higher speeds,” the company said.

Massive 10Mbps uncapped ADSL price cut

Axxess has slashed the price of its 10Mbps uncapped ADSL product from the usual R1,096 per month to R496 per month.

In a surprise move, Axxess launched its “one price fits all” uncapped ADSL service, which has the same price (R496) for 4Mbps, 5Mbps, 6Mbps, 8Mbps and 10Mbps speeds.

Axxess’ new “one price fits all” uncapped ADSL accounts are available immediately on a month-to-month basis.

According to the Axxess website, this pricing is valid until 31 October 2012, but it may be extended “due to demand”.

This announcement comes only hours after Afrihost announced that it has cut the price of its 10Mbps uncapped ADSL product from the previous R997 to R797 per month.

LTE spectrum for SA: SNAFU

Following her proposal to establish a Spectrum Management Agency in South Africa, Minister of Communications Dina Pule isn’t revealing how she’s going to address the assignment of precious spectrum.

Cellular network operators in South Africa are ready for Long Term Evolution (LTE), a high speed mobile broadband technology, but they have all expressed a dire need for additional spectrum to roll out LTE.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) was to assign spectrum ideal for the use of LTE, but withdrew its invitation to apply (ITA) pending a “policy direction” from the Minister of Communications.

The Minister previously told journalists during a press briefing at the DoC’s ICT Policy Colloquium held during April 2012 that, “immediately after analysing the public’s inputs… somewhere around May [2012]” they would be able to direct ICASA on the matter.

Dina Pule

However, on 8 May 2012 the Minister told the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications that they should commit to finalising the policy direction for high-demand spectrum by the end of the financial year.

Government’s financial year ends on 31 March 2013, which is a far cry from the previous target of May 2012 indicated by Pule.

In the meantime, the Minister has gazetted the Electronic Communications Amendment Bill for public comment. The period during which comments on the bill may be made, closed on 17 August 2012.

As it stands now, the bill requires the establishment of a Spectrum Management Agency, which is expected to represent the Minister’s role in spectrum management issues.

However, Dominic Cull, a telecommunications lawyer at Ellipsis Regulatory Solutions that specialises in regulatory issues in electronic communications law, previously explained that the Minister would have to bring a separate piece of legislation designed to create such an agency.

Where does that leave the high-demand frequency spectrum ICASA had issued (and retracted) their ITA for? Will the Ministry and Department of Communications still issue a policy direction within the current financial year, or will it wait until the Spectrum Management Agency is established?

Repeated attempts to get answers to these questions from the Minister have been met with promises, but delivered only silence.

Forging ahead in spite of spectrum limitations

Kanagaratnam Lambotharan

MTN recently revealed its plans to launch commercial LTE services on refarmed spectrum during Q4 2012.

The network ran an LTE pilot on 10MHz of refarmed 1,800MHz spectrum on approximately 200 sites, MTN SA chief technology officer, Kanagaratnam Lambotharan, told MyBroadband.

“MTN is exploring the possibility of switching on commercial LTE network within 2012, and has identified 3 key urban cities to roll out the network. Pricing has not been finalised yet,” Lambotharan said.

This firm statement of intent from MTN is yet another case of South Africa’s telecommunications industry working in spite of government’s involvement, rather than because of it.

If government, the Minister, and the Department of Communications are serious about their “broadband for all by 2020” plans, it’s time for them to stop trying to participate in the industry, and govern it instead of talking about governing it.

Isn’t that, after all, what governments are for?

Technical note: The spectrum in question is in the 2.6GHz band and the 800MHz “digital dividend” band. The 800MHz spectrum will only become available once South Africa’s migration from analogue to digital TV broadcasting is complete.