Africa News

Targetting GSM operators in Africa

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:27

Housed within the WebbLeBLANC company that Jasco has an interest in, Jasco Carrier Infrastructure is targeting GSM operators in the highly competitive African market with a comprehensive range of telecoms infrastructure solutions that can be deployed rapidly and easily.

The Rapid Deployment Units (RDUs), which are being manufactured at the company's recently upgraded Nigel facilities, are designed to overcome the unique challenges facing Africa's GSM operators - and deliver fast returns.

Explains Francois van Zyl, Divisional Managing Director of Jasco Carrier Infrastructure: "In Africa, the wireless communications market continues to grow but it is also changing rapidly. The market is becoming crowded and average revenue per user (ARPU) has declined. This has prompted network operators to introduce cost and capex reduction strategies. Demand for voice and data has grown and this is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. As such, network availability and quality have become a major challenge and a key differentiator essential to maintaining and/or improve market position.

"As a major global player supplying passive infrastructure solutions to network operators, Jasco's portfolio of rapid deployment units is well poised to meet the challenges these network operators face with regard to network expansion, coverage and quality."

The RDUs will allow service providers to overcome traditional site acquisitions hurdles, scale rapidly and allow increased capacity at specific sites to handle more traffic (eg. a conference, event, seasonal spikes), as well as maintain quality of throughput (e.g., for voice and data services).

Notes Van Zyl: "The ability to quickly install, easily relocate and reuse these RDUs make them ideal for temporary or permanent coverage solutions.Fast deployment means 'instant' profit generation, and since these RDUs are not classified as permanent structures, traditional permitting and site acquisition constraints do not apply. And In remote or rural areas, network operators or service providers making use of these RDUs do not need to deal with the cost, labour and logistics challenges associated with installing the complex concrete bases needed to stabilise and secure traditional steel structures.”

Some operators, like Vodaphone Ghana, MCELL in Mozambique and NSN, a Cell C operator, are already profiting from use of Jasco Carrier Infrastructure's RDUs.

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