What's The Big Deal With WiFi? (feat. Riaan Graham)

Published: May 9, 2016, 6:15 a.m.

b'Following our coverage last week of the partnership between VAST Networks and Ruckus Wireless to deliver on Africa\\u2019s largest single deployment of WiFi infrastructure at the recently opened Mall of Africa in Midrand, South Africa\\u2014 we thought it might be a good idea to invite a certified WiFi-freak to help us understand why WiFi may indeed be \\u201cthe next big thing\\u201d in terms of ushering in seamless connectedness on the continent.\\n\\nJoining me on the African Tech Round-up this week is Riaan Graham, Ruckus Wireless\\u2019 Director for Sub-Saharan Africa. In this week\\u2019s discussion, Riaan argues that the perfect wireless ecosystem requires the harmonious interplay between fixed line telecoms operators and mobile telcos, with WiFi playing a complimentary role. However, as fixed line operators and mobile telcos continue to grapple with diminishing voice revenues, and opt to back technologies like LTE and LTE-U over WiFi, that idyllic scenario is undoubtedly a long way off.\\n\\nMeanwhile, the growing demand for free internet access delivered via open public WiFi infrastructure further complicates matters for legacy commercial interests who are desperately trying to work out sustainable business models to ensure they survive into the future. Hat-tip to the likes of Project Isizwe in Tshwane, South Africa.\\n\\nMusic Credits:\\nMusic by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)\\nMusic licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0'