Page 3 - EngineerIT May 2022

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

It’s great when government does

something right!

ost of us are quick to judge decisions made by Rwanda made a loss and failed to offer economical
government but we seldom acknowledge when mobile rates. Mexico was another country claimed to
Ma right decision is made. One such instance is have introduced a WOAN successfully. It impressed
the scrapping of plans to launch an open access network former communications minister Siyabonga Cwele so
(WOAN). Last month, cabinet terminated the controversial much that he reportedly travelled to Mexico with a
scheme first introduced years ago, in the belief that it would South African delegation to meet with Mexican officials
increase competition in South Africa’s mobile market. to learn about that country’s experiences.

The WOAN was, for almost a decade, long a key policy of the The GMSA also wrote in its paper that the lessons
ANC for South Africa’s telecommunications industry. While from these countries that failed with their WOAN

opposed by the industry, government was determined to implementations should serve as examples to other
create the WOAN as a platform for smaller players to get countries thinking about going this route. They
access to the mobile telecoms market. highlighted the real challenges of an SWN or WOAN.
They are a wake-up call to those regulators who look to
Many workshops and briefings were held to convince the them as an alternative to tried-and-true approaches to
industry. Although reluctantly accepting a comprise, no network deployment.
industry player came forward with a concrete proposal or an
offer to run the WOAN. Earlier this year, the Mexican company operating the
WOAN filed for bankruptcy. This appears to have been
In December 2019, the Global Mobile Suppliers a wake-up call for our government as shortly after that,
Association (GSMA) published a white paper, warning cabinet decided to drop the WOAN plans. We should
that wholesale open access networks are perhaps not the recognise them for making the right decision.
solution they are claimed to be. The paper asserted that
the goals are often ambitious when governments want to There are many interesting articles in this edition of
build a single wholesale network (SWN) or a wholesale EngineerIT. Enjoy our e-book version or download the
open access network (WOAN) instead of relying on PDF version to read later and share with your colleagues
competing mobile networks to deliver mobile broadband and friends.
services in their country.
We welcome your comments, articles and news item
Citizens are promised better coverage, more competition contributions. Email me at hansv@nowmedia.co.za
and as a result, more affordable prices. However, turning or call me on 082 781 4631. I look forward to hearing
this vision into a working reality with an impact that goes from you.
beyond what traditional networks can achieve, is difficult.
Government, in its arguments about why South Africa Best wishes
needed a WOAN, often cited the successful implementation Hans van de Groenendaal
of a WOAN in Rwanda and Mexico. Editor

EngineerIT | May 2022 | 1