Microsoft to deliver White Space broadband to South Africa

Microsoft has launched a new trial of so-called white space broadband in the northern South African province of Limpopo. This adds to Microsoft's existing "4Afrika" white space trials in Kenya and Tanzania, and Google's similar program in Cape Town, at the other end of South Africa.

The project will use TV white spaces and solar-powered base stations to provide low-cost wireless broadband access to five secondary schools in remote parts of the Limpopo province while using the University of Limpopo as a hub for a white space network deployment that will provide nearby schools in local communities with wireless connectivity. It will also provide each of the five schools with Windows-based tablets and projectors while teachers will get laptops and training and education-related content. Solar panels for charging device will also be provided where there is no access to electricity.

"Technology holds enormous potential for many aspects of development, but it is particularly key to areas such as education and healthcare," Mteto Nyati, managing director of Microsoft South Africa said. "Reducing the cost of broadband access means millions more South Africans will get online. This will create new opportunities for education, healthcare, commerce and the delivery of government services across the country."

Using available technologies such as TV White Spaces could lower the current ADSL prices in South Africa where, for example, 1Mbps ADSL costs about R340 (US$34) per month. Nyati told ZDNet that white spaces broadband should be "sustainable for between R20-R50" (about US$2-US$5) for up to 4Mbps uncapped per month.

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