Telecommunications giant says LTE is the next evolution of the company’s network upgrade that will support Lesotho’s growing internet needs.
IN an effort to keep up with growing demand, telecommunications giant, Vodacom Lesotho has introduced another thrilling product set to embrace the power of the internet, as well as change the lives of Basotho.
Long-Term Evolution internet, better known as LTE, was launched by Vodacom Lesotho early last month, and, according to the company’s Executive Head – Consumer and Enterprise Services, Johnny Dos Santos, the innovation has proved extremely popular among consumers.
Mr Dos Santos speaks with Lesotho Times (LT) reporter, Lekhetho Ntsukunyane, about the “sensational product”.
LT: Could you please tell us exactly what this new product called LTE internet is all about?
Dos Santos: LTE actually means Long-Term Evolution, or 4G internet as it is commonly referred to. It is our new fixed internet service that provides up to 10 times faster speeds than 3G services and is priced very competitively. LTE is the next evolution of our network upgrade that will support the growing internet needs of Basotho, providing super-fast, convenient and affordable means to connect both at a consumer and business level. LTE has now been deployed in many countries around the world and has become one of the fastest growing technologies.
LT: How did you introduce this product to the public, and what prompted the initiative considering we already had internet in Lesotho?
Dos Santos: Earlier this year, we approached the regulator – Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) – and applied for the spectrum needed to rollout the network. We were successful in the application and commenced to install the network in Maseru. We commercially launched LTE internet on 2 October 2014, primarily offered as a fixed internet service suited for individual, residential and office use. In the very near future, we will rollout LTE to be a fully mobile service available to mobile phones that are LTE compatible. As we rollout the service, we shall continue to introduce unique and competitively priced services to our users, not only on LTE but also for our 3G internet service. We also recognise the need to bring down the entry barrier to get users connected to the internet as part of our strategy to get all Basotho connected to the internet.
LT: So what is the ultimate goal in getting all Basotho connected to the internet?
Dos Santos: Traditionally, pricing for data capable devices has been an entry barrier and so we introduced a 3G capable smartphone, the Vodacom Smart Kicka priced at M499, to address that need and the response has been very positive from the market. We have also recently launched a 7-inch tablet, the Vodacom Smart Tab, also 3G capable priced at M999 and so we see that with the introduction of these competitively priced devices, we will be able to put the power of the internet into people’s hands. Similarly with LTE, we have also heavily subsidised the devices needed to connect to the service and have a range of exciting prepaid and contract deals to choose from.
LT: How has been the response from the public regarding LTE?
Dos Santos: Very positive. Hundreds of users have been connected over the past month, and are alreadybenefiting a lot from the service. As people experience the power of the internet, researching online, have the ability to watch videos online and find new ways to connect to friends, family and colleagues, LTE will be the enabler for future service and development enablers. LTE will allow education services to be offered online to assist both students and teachers to progress through their curriculums and will allow medical information and applications to be developed to improve the health sector. It will also support the government’s broadband policy and allow for more government departments to get connected to the internet and provide services online. The opportunities provided by LTE are vast and very exciting.
LT: Were you able to cover the entire country, even in the remote areas of Lesotho, as you introduced this product?
Dos Santos: LTE services are primarily available in Maseru with plans in the coming months to roll the service into the districts. We have, however, designed the LTE modems to be able to use the 3G network where LTE is not available and so users will have a consistent service experience. With over 240 base-stations throughout the country, we are now covering close to 90 percent of the population, primarily on voice services but have been and continue to rollout our 3G and LTE networks throughout Lesotho to ensure that every user who wants to connect to the internet is able to do so.
LT: Can you tell us more about LTE?
Dos Santos:Since its inception, Vodacom has been at the forefront of launching innovative services, having been the first to launch 3G services and rolling out the best data network in Lesotho. As data usage continues to grow and as more users get connected to the internet, we needed to ensure our network would be able to cope with future growth demands, whist building a platform for future applications that would drive broadband penetration and allow for products and services that will be at the forefront of Lesotho’s development. The launch of LTE and our continued 3G rollout is aligned towards the Government’s Broadband Policy to get all Basotho connected to the internet and Vodacom is committed to meeting this goal..
LT: What challenges have you met so far in your innovations?
Dos Santos: The biggest challenge will always be to show and convince customers of the power that technology, especially the internet, can inject into every facet of their lives. But in order to achieve this, the content delivered to Basotho through the internet needs to be content that is relevant to Lesotho. There is a range of business, education, health and agricultural tools that we are working to make available through the internet. But these can only achieve a huge development impact on the country when both us and Basotho believe in our collective power.We cannot do it alone. This is why, through our Vodacom Foundation, we are working very closely with local entrepreneurs in technology, as well as with the government, to roll out electronic and mobile education solutions, as well as mobile health solutions over the coming months and years, using our technology and services to amplify government’s development drives in those areas.
Demand for internet connectivity is growing at unprecedented rates as entire populations adopt new ways of communicating, connecting and running businesses. Lesotho, like the rest of the world, is entering an era driven by the internet. Vodacom Lesotho’s LTE network is the foundation for serving this growth in Lesotho. The fast speeds offered by the LTE network will revolutionise internet experience for Basotho everywhere, whether at home or at the office, through the affordable packages that we have put in place, both for those wishing to connect on a prepaid or post-paid basis.
It is a new era for internet connectivity in Lesotho, and the company is excited as all Basotho embrace this momentous development, and explore the different ways in which technology can play a powerful role in driving socio-economic development in Lesotho.
