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The Knysna Project

The Knysna Project. “The First Completely Wi-Fi covered Town in Africa”. A Partnership between UniNet and the Knysna Municipality. The Vision. To build completely Wi-Fi covered Towns throughout Africa in partnership with government and service providers.

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The Knysna Project

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  1. The Knysna Project “The First Completely Wi-Fi covered Town in Africa” A Partnership between UniNet and the Knysna Municipality

  2. The Vision • To build completely Wi-Fi covered Towns throughout Africa in partnership with government and service providers. • To redress the imbalances that exist in the access to communications services in the region. • To empower the community and its visitors with access to 21st Century cost-effective communications services.

  3. The Business Case for Municipalities • A significant portion of a municipality’s budget is spend on internal communication, esp. in developing world context. • Municipal service delivery is severely constrained by inadequate access to communication services especially in under-serviced areas • The “Digital Divide” is very prevalent between first and second economies within these communities.

  4. Knysna • The Knysna Municipality awarded a Tender to build a Wireless local-loop access and transit infrastructure to cover the entire region. • Outdoor Uni-Fi Hotspots (Wi-Fi) are also installed throughout the region, including the informal settlements. • The Municipality uses UniNet to provision free basic internet and Voice services to the community. • UniNet provides sustainable low-cost commercial Internet, VoIP and data services to the community.

  5. Knysna • Other service providers in the region can utilize the network for the delivery of services to their clients - The first open access network in SA! • Social development initiatives are implemented in the region, based on cost effective communications services. • UniNet operates and maintains the wholesale network services in the area. • The project is financed through re-allocation of operational capital – no additional capital budget is required from the Municipality.

  6. How it works!

  7. UniNet Technology Simulation

  8. The UniFi User Experience • High quality low-cost fixed line telephony and Internet. • Mobile Voice and Data access close to any UniNet CPE, including all municipal sites, schools, libraries and Clinics. • Access to low cost VoIP and data services within the community including throughout the informal settlements. • Portability vs Mobility • Free local calls (on-net) • Free basic internet services in libraries on all hotspots.

  9. Service Delivery Summary – Knysna • 89 Municipal Sites • 36 Municipal Buildings • 13 Schools; 3 Clinics; 8 Libraries • 23 Municipal Staff home connections; 5 Charities • Currently 120 Outdoor hotspots • Complete (90%) Fixed-wireless coverage of entire town including formal and informal (shantytown) settlements and rural surroundings. And 30% of the town covered by Hotspots • Municipality has just confirmed expansion of the project to bring the total to over 300 hotspots. • Commercial Service delivery to the community • Low cost VoIP • Always on broadband Internet • Wholesale Access services for all licensed Service providers.

  10. The Regulatory Framework. • Regulatory framework for Municipal local-loop infrastructure deployments: • The Local government body (Knysna Municipality) owns the network and is a licensed PTN. The network is installed and operated by UniNet who provides low-cost commercial services to the community provided under it’s VANS license. • Electronic Communications Act (ECA) • Competitive marketplace – wholesale/open access • Municipalities to be class licenses for infrastructure. • UniNet would apply/lobby for conversion to Infrastructure class licensee

  11. The UniNet Pilgrimage in Southern Africa • 1999 UniNet Lda. Maputo was established • 2000 UniNet sets the pace and offers broadband for USD50 always-on uncapped in Maputo. • 2001 More than 6 fixed-wireless operators begin compete in Mozambique driving prices down. • 2002 UniNet is started in Cape Town, with SA and Mozambiquan investors and obtains VANS license.

  12. The UniNet Pilgrimage in Southern Africa • July 2003 UniNet is invited to present at the UN in New York about the state of telecoms de-regulation in Southern Africa • FCC, UNDP and UNICT taskforce assist UniNet with strategy and promise support. • FCC advised UniNet on the creation of industry self regulatory bodies for ISM band usage as they had done in the US. • UNICT Taskforce and the Wireless Institute support UniNet and sponsor the PR and lobby campaign. • Dec. 2003 UniNet is sponsored to present at WSIS Geneva. • Jan 2004-2005 UniNet invited across the world to present at Digital cities summits, Tunis WSIS and a number of local (SA) summits/conferences on telecoms.

  13. The UniNet Pilgrimage in Southern Africa • September 2004 UniNet receives DTI funding as a BEE startup company with the CITI bandwidth barn initiative. • July 2005 UniNet wins Knysna Municipality tender for wireless local loop infrastructure. • August 2005 Telkom tries to undermine the Knysna project by alleging to the Municipality and the press that UniNet’s service is illegal • Nov 2005. UniNet completes “UniFi Knysna” Phase 1- “ The first Wi-Fi covered town in Africa” • Nov 2005 UniNet and a number of competitors make submissions to ICASA on industry self regulation body.

  14. The UniNet Pilgrimage in Southern Africa • December 2005 DOC approached UniNet for information on Knysna and offered their support. • Jan 2006 UniNet launches VoIP Carrier pre-select service. • Jan 2006 DOC provide support to UniNet to secure financing for expansion. • Feb 2006 UniNet commences proof of concept deployments for: • Storm, Datapro, Openvoice, Verizon, Directel/Transtel and other major 2nd Tier ISP’s.

  15. The UniNet Pilgrimage in Southern Africa • Nov 2005 Worldbank – Infodev use UniNet as a exemplary open access case study in developing countries. • May 2006 Worldbank – investigating funding expansion of Knysna project to the region, with a view to subsequent Southern African expansion. • May 2006 UniNet, a large 2nd Tier ISP , I to I, Multisource, XoN and Redlinx form a consortium for the City of Cape Town SCAN tender.

  16. Awards and Recognition • UN ICT Task Force best-practices case study for “Wi-Fi for development” July 2003 • Winner in the Enablis/Business report “ICT Entrepreneurs Challenge 2005” Business expansion category. • Technology top 100 award for the Most promising Emerging company, sponsored by Department of Science and Technology and the DaVinci institute October 2005. “…a viable solution to the roll-out of divergence technologies in SA's rural and other underserviced areas.” TT100 Judges

  17. Future Plans in South Africa • Another 4 UniFi projects planned for deployment in 2006 with Small to Medium Municipalities. • 3 Tenders for the Metro’s Cape Town, Durban and Tswane. • Completion of network coverage for the Eden district Municipality Riversdale to Plettenberg bay. • Provincial government projects in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Eastern Cape. • 2 Rural Mozambique projects in partnership with Government, • Organic expansion based on Service providers in partnership with UniNet.

  18. Local Government Partnerships • The key to realizing social delivery and local economic development utilizing next generation Telecoms solutions.

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