The report details the status quo and the outlook for Wi-Fi in South Africa, against a global context, and sets out to assist and support decision-makers who wish to develop proactive strategies in response to Wi-Fi, both in the private sector and the public sector.

The research, analysis and report provide a sharp focus on Wi-Fi as a commercial threat as well as opportunity. The study frames the information within conceptual models and scenarios which make better sense of the emerging trends. Focus areas and objectives include:

  • Highlighting key, relevant global developments and their impact on Wi-Fi positioning and prospects, even as the new-generation Wi-Fi 6 evolves to compete and complement 5G mobile and widespread fibre deployment.
  • Defining and developing usage and service models and strategies for Wi-Fi, especially in terms of finding value and monetisation models.

 

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Introduction and Background to the Report

Major Trends in Wi-Fi

Background information: Wi-Fi technology and applications

  • Overview of Wi-Fi technology
  • 11ac Wave 2: Enabling gigabit speeds for more users and more complex services
  • Wi-Fi 6 : Introduction – The next generation
  • Wi-Fi 6 : Positioning versus 4G and 5G
  • The Wi-Fi Roadmap
  • Global spectrum trends
  • Applications of Wi-Fi in the domestic and office / commercial markets
  • Wi-Fi in public spaces
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Benefits of Wi-Fi and free public Wi-Fi
  • Models for public Wi-Fi (hotspots and hotzones)

Commercial Wi-Fi in South Africa

  • Telkom including Telkom Mobile and FastNet
  • VAST Networks
  • VAST (coverage) and AlwaysOn
  • VAST (coverage)
  • WirelessG / G-Connect / GConnect
  • iSpot
  • Skyrove
  • Large commercial telecom operators: Cell C, Vodacom, MTN, Vox Telecom & Liquid Telecom
  • eMbiso
  • BrightWave
  • Project Isizwe
  • TooMuchWiFi
  • WAPA (Wireless Applications Providers Association) and its member WISPS (Wireless Internet Service Providers)
  • Herotel
  • The rise of the retailer offering

Municipal and public Wi-Fi in South Africa

  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: City of Tshwane
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: City of Johannesburg
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: City of Cape Town
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Western Cape Province
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Buffalo City
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Eastern Cape – OR Tambo District
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Other KwaZulu-Natal Province projects
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Free State and North West Province
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Other areas
  • Wi-Fi and Internet access in the 2016 Municipal elections
  • Public Wi-Fi in South Africa: Summary

Implementation concepts for Public Wi-Fi

  • Concepts for Public Wi-Fi – Google Station
  • Concepts for Public Wi-Fi – LinkNYC
  • Concepts for Public Wi-Fi
  • Public Wi-Fi in Tourism locations
  • Public Wi-Fi in the transport sector – taxis
  • Public Wi-Fi in the transport sector – buses & planes

Global trends and the outlook for Wi-Fi in South Africa

  • Global outlook for Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi hotspots
  • Global outlook for Wi-Fi versus Mobile Broadband
  • Broadband subscriptions and unique individual subscribers
  • Outlook for Wi-Fi compatible devices in South Africa
  • Wireless and Wi-Fi access contextualised
  • Breakdown of Wi-Fi Zones by type
  • Breakdown of Business and Residential Wi-Fi Zones by type
  • Public hotspots
  • Outlook for hotspots: Public and Commercial

Summary and conclusions

 

 

Research team

The team for this research includes Brian Neilson and Christopher Geerts.

Deliverables and format

The outcomes of the research and analysis will be documented in a PowerPoint document.

BMI-T will also provide a workshop/presentation in the Gauteng region, while reserving its option to combine this topic with other published topics.

Related research

  • Future of Broadband in South Africa
  • The Fibre Lang Grab: Status of FTTx in South Africa
  • 5G Market Sizing and Forecast

Further information

For further information and details on how to subscribe to this research please contact Anita Mathews on 011 540 8000 or anita@bmit.africa