US$4m broadband Internet service on the cards

TelOne will soon roll out US$4 million broadband Internet for its subscribers who use wireless technology handsets, Code Division Multiple Access.

TelOne technical director Mr Lawrence Nkala told reporters that the service, to start end of February, would de-congest existing Internet facilities.

"We will start offering the service in Harare and Bulawayo because we have existing infrastructure in the two cities before expanding it to other towns," he said.

Telone subscribers will use their landline handsets to connect to the Internet.

"We have expanded our links in Harare and Bulawayo in preparation for the project.

"Customers should be ready to get high speed Internet using telephone lines," he said.

Mr Nkala said the plan to roll out broadband had been delayed by funding.

"There is still a broadband market for us and we have to take advantage of that," he said.

Currently, TelOne subscribers are using the dial-up facility to connect to the Internet.

Mr Nkala said the first phase of the fixed broadband project targeted small to medium enterprises, corporates and households before expansion to rural areas.

"This would ensure we deliver high-speed Internet solutions using fixed telephone lines," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Nkala said expansion of TelOne's CDMA phones had been held up by lack of funds to put up necessary infrastructure to other areas.

"We did not have the transmission capacity to link other towns," he said.