FIFA has been caught off-side by the high cost of broadband in SA. ITWeb reports that the world soccer governing body and its technology partner, MATCH, had not anticipated the extraordinarily high cost of bandwidth in this country when awarding the 2010 World Cup to SA, reveals Dick Wiles, the CEO of MATCH. As a result, MATCH has been forced to re-evaluate and ’dumb down’ its technology solutions in order to stay within budget. He explains the technology spend for the coming World Cup will be similar to the 2006 World Cup – a figure he is not willing to disclose because of commercial agreements – but, due to high infrastructure and bandwidth costs, FIFA and MATCH have been forced to be ’a bit more creative’ to stay within budget.
The SABC board has given 2010 World Cup digital broadcasting rights to a multinational foreign company, to the detriment of a locally based black-owned company which won the initial bid. According to papers before the Johannesburg High Court, SABC board chairperson Kanyi Mkonza and her two directors, Gloria Serobe and Andile Mbeki, unilaterally decided to snub Digital Horizons, owned by Joe Mjwara, in favour of Sony, a Japanese-owned company. The Star reports that the SABC board’s decision to award Sony digital broadcasting rights for the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup games was taken in April 2008. Digital Horizons lodged an urgent application in which it asked the court to prevent the SABC from concluding the deal with Sony.
A delay in finalising the commercial and legal agreements for the consortium that plans to participate in the 13 000km African West Coast Cable means that financial closure is now unlikely to be achieved by the middle of this month as planned. As a result, the project will only come into service in the latter half of 2010, after the FIFA World Cup is over. According to Business Report, the R3.9bn initiative involves the deployment of a 3 840 gigabits/second supercable terminating in London, with branching units to at least 10 countries on Africa’s west coast. But state-owned broadband utility Infraco, which is leading the initiative and had targeted this month as the latest date for achieving financial close, has admitted that the initial schedule could not be met. Infraco director Cornelis Groesbeek, said a consortium agreement was one of two key requirements for achieving financial close. The other - conclusion of the commercial supply process - has reportedly been achieved.
The construction of an undersea cable, which is to serve South Africa’s bandwidth needs for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa, while also supporting sustained East and South African economic growth, is on track and in a mature stage of development, reports communications cabling systems contractor, Seacom. ’With construction now under way, and about 16 months left to commissioning date, we are on schedule to meet the bandwidth needs of the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa,’ reports Seacom president Brian Herlihy. Seacom is responsible for the development of the private submarine fibre-optic cable, and will be the full service provider of international fibre bandwidth along the East Coast of Africa to Southern Africa, Europe and Asia, reports the company. According to the Engineering News report, the cabling systems company will assist communication carriers in South and East Africa through the sale of wholesale inter-national capacity to global networks through India and Europe.
While many South Africans are eagerly awaiting the services of Telkom rival Neotel, Johannesburg residents are furious about the damage wreaked by the company — and many others — on the city’s roads. Some have vented their anger directly at Neotel, which is building the backbone for its fixed-line telephone infrastructure. ’Residents are up in arms about the state of the roads, and the impact they have on their day-to-day living through traffic holdups, potholes that are damaging vehicles and the general safety of the roads,’ admits Stefano Mattiello, the executive head of the enterprise group at Neotel. The Fmtech site reports that, other telecommunications companies including Telkom, Vodacom and Dark Fibre Africa have also embarked on digging trenches to lay cables .’A number of players are laying fibre in preparation for providing better communications systems to the country and for the 2010 Soccer World Cup,’ says Mattiello. Conel Mackay,the agency’s spokesperson says the surge in excavation applications, which is much higher than in previous years, has mainly been driven by an ’inordinate increase’ in infrastructural projects such as the Gautrain ahead of 2010.
Broadband cable won’t be ready by 2010 - 07/07/2008
It has now been revealed that despite repeated government assurances, the Broadband Infraco-led undersea cable set to run up the west coast of Africa could be up to six months behind schedule and will not be ready in time for the 2010 World Cup. According to a MyADSL.co.za report, less that a month ago Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri told Parliament that the African west coast cable would come on line in May 2010, the month before the World Cup kicks off on June 11. However, this week Cornelis Groesbeck, a department of public enterprises consultant close to the AWCC project, said the cable was ’never intended’ to be ready in time for the World Cup.
FIFA has renewed its broadcasting agreement with ESPN-STAR Sports (ESS), giving the network exclusive South Asian telecast rights of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Under the terms of agreement, ESPN-STAR will have the exclusive rights to show over 275 international football games including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup both to be held for the first time on African soil in South Africa. In addition, it will bring other FIFA World Cup events for men, women, youth, Futsal and Beach Soccer to fans in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal. The network also held exclusive broadcast rights for the recently concluded UEFA European Championship which besides having the telecast right of Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and the Spanish Primera Liga.
A broadband undersea cable that could provide eastern Africa with the first inexpensive but quick telecommunications connection will be completed in 2010, a Rwanda mobile operator said. The much-delayed East Africa Submarine System (EASSy) will run between South Africa and Sudan and is designed to bring fast and cheap bandwidth to at least 23 African countries. ’EASSy has two components. The sea cable will be completed by 2010,’ Themba Khumalo, the CE of MTN in Rwanda, said. ’The terrestrial part is currently being executed, a good portion is already completed. The Peninsula reports that there are a few links under planning but they will be done way before the 2010 timeline.
Cable television network ESPN Star Sports is believed to have emerged as the highest bidder for the broadcasting rights for the 2010 World Cup in the Indian subcontinent. ESPN compeated with Ten Sports after Indian pay-television broadcaster Neo Sports withdrew from the process last week, when the third round exceeded the USD 35m mark. ESPN bid is believed to by over $ 40m, a figure that marks a significant increase on the $ 9m FIFA received for the 2006 World Cup and the $ 3m paid in 2002.
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has approved an equity investment of R500m into Broadband Infraco, the state-owned telecoms infrastructure company, which is planning to build a R4bn ’supercable’ from Cape Town to London ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Public-private partnership unit head Lindi Toyi said that the IDC would be looking to acquire a maximum interest of about 25%, arguing that the move was in line with the state-owned financier’s mandate to address ’market failures’. According to Business Report, the key project designed to lower broadband costs is the African West Coast Cable, a 13 000km undersea fibre cable terminating in London, incorporating branching units to at least 10 countries along the west coast of Africa. The government sees the cable as essential to the improvement of competitive pressures in intercontinental infrastructure provision, as well as to sustaining more than five participants in the provision of such infrastructure.
Telkom boosts expenditure ahead of 2010 - 20/06/2008
Fixed-line operator Telkom would add an extra R2bn to its R30bn capital expenditure (capex) programme, that ran from the 2006 to 2010. Telkom would invest R1.7bn over three years in its fixed wireless deployment – the first customers would be connected in September – while the balance would be invested in projects related to the 2010 World Cup and international cable expansion initiatives. Engineering News reports that CE Reuben September explained that the investment would also boost its data products. He stated that the company was in a strong position in terms of its data offerings, and would con-sider the next step of converging telecommunications and IT in order to add to its offering.
Soccer fans have castigated the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) for failing to televise Zambia’s away 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifiers after massive advertising. ZNBC Public Relations manager, Mirriam Taonga said her company regretted having failed to show the match live on television despite having done everything possible to ensure that people watched the game live. Morris Mujala, who is also BP Zambia national sales and marketing manager, said ZNBC were a let down to the sponsors and fans. The Daily Mail reports that Mujala said ’it was a pity that ZNBC had continued failing to televise away matches when sponsors spent a lot of money through sponsorship.’ He said ’what was worrying was that ZNBC were not even concerned about the feelings of soccer fans and the sponsors each time they failed to show games on television.’ ’You can imagine they continued showing us the same adverts time and again without showing the match,’ he complained.
Telkom will upgrade its core and access networks ahead of the 2010 World Cup. In the recent budget vote speech, Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri said that ’infrastructure provision for 2010 will involve the upgrade of Telkom’s core network to meet FIFA’s requirements.’ Telkom will also boost network access from its exchanges into stadiums. ’This excess capacity on both the core and access network will be used to cater for increased demand after 2010,’ the minister said. According to a MyADSL.co.za report, the minister also pointed out that Sentech’s investment in the second teleport will serve as a second back-up for the 2010 World Cup for the existing teleport in Honeydew, as well as back-up for post 2010.
SABC1 is launching a prime-time magazine show, Countdown 2010, in June 2008 which aims to keep mzansi viewers fully informed and involved in the preparation for the largest sports event ever held in the African continent. Bizcommunity.com reports that the public appetite for the latest news continues to grow across the country, and Countdown 2010 is a one-stop shop to meet this demand. The show intends to supply viewers with an informed, lively update on issues ranging from the progress of the stadium construction programme, through security, marketing, IT and all other work streams to ways in which people can participate in business opportunities related to the tournament.
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry is still in a positive growth phase and looks set to grow even more in the foreseeable future, Information Technology Association president Keith Anderson says. ’The 2010 World Cup, Eskom’s recapitalisation programme as well as the development and growth of wireless technologies and broadband have given rise to the industry’s upward curve,’ Anderson explains. Nevertheless, challenges facing the ICT sector include the number of technology distributors that supply services to vendors, the existence of monopolies in the industry, local pricing that is too high, skills shortages and the importance of getting ICT’s to rural areas.
DOC in search of communications partner - 26/05/2008
The Department of Communications (DOC) has called for tenders for a digital migration public awareness campaign. While the DOC has not been able to quantify the value of the potential contract, spokesperson Albi Modise says the campaign will run over the course of three years and will be of central importance to the department. ITWeb reports that the digital migration process refers to the switchover from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting. According to the call for tenders, the partner brought on board to communicate this has to focus on the benefits of digital broadcasting, the take-up of STBs by consumers, and consumer education. The communications partner also has to take into account preparations for the 2010 World Cup.
The era of the moblie television has been on the horizon for a number of years. As early as 2005, pay-TV operator MultiChoice had tested mobile TV in conjunction with South Africa’s cellular operators, allowing trialists to watch events such as the 2006 Football World Cup, music and even full-length movies on special cellphones. However, it hasn’t been able to launch a commercial service because the Department of Communications has yet to issue a policy document that lays out the regulation of both mobile broadcasting and digital terrestrial TV. MyADSL.co.za reports that further delays will, says MultiChoice CE Nolo Letele, jeopardise the plans that it has for rolling out mobile TV services. He says if MultiChoice isn’t confident it can have the service ready for prime time by the 2010 World Cup, it would look at scaling back its investment in the service.
Broadband Infraco, the new, state-owned communications infrastructure company, is making significant headway in plans to build a high-capacity submarine cable along the west coast of Africa. According to a FM Tech report, the cable, which will be the world’s longest such system, will cost $510m and is expected to be switched on in time for the 2010 World Cup. The 13 000km system will follow roughly the same route as the Telkom-controlled Sat-3 cable and also provide competition to the cable that is being built along Africa’s east coast by the Seacom consortium.
Independent Online reports that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has reduced its commitment to Cape Town’s planned fibre optic network, from R51.6m to R30m. Screen Africa reports that in December the city council fast-tracked the city-wide broadband network in preparation for South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup. An expenditure of R400m was committed to the first phase of the project. However, with the new CSIR’s reduced commitment, the city council will have to re-plan the project.
Dali Mpofu, the suspended SABC boss, is planning to go to the High Court this week to ask for his suspension to be lifted on the grounds that it was unlawful and flouted corporate governance principles. The Sunday Independent reports that the court bid to overturn Mpofu’s suspension is a new blow to the board, which is facing a crisis amid questioning of its legitimacy. It has been told by the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications that the committee has lost confidence in it, indicating that the appointment of its members is likely to be reviewed, if not ended, when the matter is debated in two weeks. Despite rumours that he would be paid for the remainder of his contract, Mpofu said he had not been offered a termination package. The infighting has sparked widespread concern about the national broadcaster’s readiness to cover the elections next year, to implement digital migration, and to broadcast the 2010 World Cup.
The South African Government has identified the Broadband Infraco-led African West Coast Cable project as a lead initiative to create a sustainable, competitive international bandwidth market in the country. According to a South African Info report, the project, which is expected to be functioning in the middle of 2010, will have branching units to at least 10 countries along the west coast of Africa and have a design length of 13 000 kilometres. It is anticipated that the system will enter the service by mid 2010 in time to meet the bandwidth requirements for the 2010 World Cup.
South Africa will soon award a contract to lay a 13 000km undersea fibre-optic cable off Africa’s west coast, which should lower communications costs, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said. According to a Moneyweb report, the African West Coast Cable will stretch from Cape Town to London and connect to at least 10 other countries on the continent. Broadband Infraco, a telecommunications company owned by South Africa’s Government, will own 26% of the project, with the balance to be held by private companies. ’The processes of entering into contractual arrangements and finalising the slots are well advanced,’ said Erwin. ’We are pushing very, very hard to ensure we meet’ a deadline to complete the cable in time to be used for the 2010 World Cup.
A funding crunch could delay South Africa’s plans to have digital broadcasting in place for the 2010 World Cup, the CE of state-run telecommunications firm Sentech said. FIFA has demanded that South Africa use a high-definition digital format when it begins broadcasting the World Cup matches to a global audience of four billion people. The Mercury reports that South Africa is spending billions to build stadiums and upgrade infrastructure. Switching television signals to digital from analog is part of the effort. Sentech CE Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane, however, said a November 1 2008 switchover target might not be met because of a capital expenditure shortfall.
Infraco’s African West Coast Cable project, which is aiming to connect South Africa to the UK, is expected to be operational by the middle of 2010, in time for the 2010 World Cup. This is according to a statement from the South African Government, saying that it is aiming to create a ’sustainable, competitive international bandwidth market in South Africa’. ’The decision is in line with the president’s statement in this year’s state of the nation address to complete the licensing and the operationalisation of Infraco as well as the completion of the process to launch undersea cables in partnership with other governments on the continent and the private sector,’ the GCIS statement says.
Bitter infighting among the board and senior executives of the SABC has erupted into a full-scale conflict amid claims in Parliament of misconduct and broken trust. According to a report on the IoL site, the crisis has sparked concern among politicians and SABC executives about the public broadcaster’s strategic plans, including its preparedness for digital migration, coverage of the 2009 elections and the 2010 World Cup. The SABC - already under fire for being too cosy with the government - was plunged deeper into controversy when ANC MPs passed a motion of no confidence in the board during a sitting of the national assembly’s communications committee.
Verizon to assist with 2010 preparations – 04/05/2008
International communications company Verizon Business says it can assist South Africa’s telecommunications industry to prepare for its role in the 2010 World Cup. ’From a communications infrastructure perspective, South Africa is not ready for the enormous task of hosting the World Cup in 2010. Internationally, we need more capacity and international costs are way too expensive,’ Verizon Business Development Executive Elia Tsouros explains. Engineering News reports that he says that the country needs to grow it capacity by 100 times what it currently has. From a broadcasting and data transmission perspective, an increase in capacity and costs needs to take place urgently, even though there are still international limits on capacity.
Government is guaranteeing FIFA 99.99% network availability with no single point of failure. Opening the 28th Southern Africa Telecommunications Association Conference, its Chairman and Telkom’s Chief of Global Operations and Subsidiaries, Thami Msimango, said that ’collective decisions’ will truly empower Southern Africa. According to a MyADSL.co.za report, Msimango said that Telkom especially values the input of their counterparts in Southern Africa at this critical point in time - just two years before the world’s biggest sporting event, the 2010 World Cup, takes place in Africa. More specifically, he continued, our role is to provide mainly connectivity from each of the 10 World Cup stadiums to FIFA’s International Broadcasting Centre, as well as the infrastructure to support FIFA’s event management systems, volunteer centres, headquarters, hotels and media centres.
The City of Johannesburg has announced that it will host the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) for the 2010 World Cup and develop a multi-million rand precinct around Nasrec. ’We were delighted that Joburg was selected to host the International Broadcasting Centre,’ says Executive Director: 2010 Sibongile Mazibuko. ’We were selected by a joint National Government and the LOC selection committee (IBC Bid Evaluation Team) and have since also signed an IBC host agreement with the LOC.’ Mazibuko, who is responsible for implementing the City’s 2010 programme, says the City has partnered with the national Departments of Transport, Communications, Public Works, Sport, and the private sector to invest significant amounts on money and effort aimed at transforming Nasrec into a thriving successful precinct.
Sharper pictures, superior sound quality and the ability to view on ever larger screens are some of the qualities driving the growth in the worldwide High Definition (HD) market. Whether 2008 is the breakthrough year in South Africa, or whether we’ll have to wait a bit longer, it seems as if HDTV is here to stay. According to a Filmmaker report, viewers around the world with the required technology can look forward to watching the 2010 World Cup broadcast in high definition from 25 different camera angles and using 5.1 surround sound.
The SABC, the Southern African Broadcasting Association (Saba) and the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) will be working together to bring the World Cup to the audiences. SABC head of international affairs Phil Molefe said this recently at a workshop organised to share information between the 2010 LOC and the local business and sporting fraternity. The Sunday Mail reports that Molefe said they mandated SABC, Saba and AUB to establish a consortium to secure broadcasting rights for African countries at reasonable prices looking at the economical situation of different countries on the continent. He said they are going to implement this on the basis of the Africa Legacy project, which is intended at seeing Africa as whole benefit from the hosting of the biggest sporting event by SA.
