Business solutions provider MWEB Business has launched a new satellite Internet service, which will aim to deliver low-cost Internet connectivity to rural parts of South Africa
According to the MWEB, the step was taken in an attempt to bridge the digital divide evident in South African rural and urban areas.
It said that the service would be aimed at rural communities, farmers and other areas where standard broadband access is not currently available.
MWEB Business general manager Andre Joubert said, “Internet access has always been problematic, if not impossible, for individuals and businesses located in regions where ADSL, 3G and even electricity is unavailable or unreliable.
“The new MWEB Business VSAT service is going to make a difference to farmers and game lodge owners, as well as the mining and construction industries, which currently face enormous difficulties communicating with their head offices in the cities.”
Joubert added that MWEB VSAT customers would be able to use the service not only for surfing the Internet and using e-mail, but also as a potentially more reliable and affordable form of telephone communication.
The company, through its VSAT services, said it would provide telephone services, which could be used as a backup to fixed-line service in areas prone to cable theft.
The service, which is based on satellite connectivity, will be immune from cable theft, claimed MWEB.
The equipment required to utilise the service, including the satellite dishes, could be leased or purchased outright. The MWEB satellite service will offer a speed of up to 4Mbps.
