“We are going into a wild west era of internet connectivity in SA,” Arthur Goldstuck

NVDL: In an increasingly dark, andgrim economic climate, this is very good news for online companies and e-commerce. Now all we can hope for is that the lights stay on so that we can use it effectively.

clipped from www.businessday.co.za About 1-million people had broadband internet access, up a healthy 56% from a year ago. More people were able to access the internet using wireless technologies than by using Telkom’s fixed line services, although many of them used wireless as a back-up to their fixed line. That would change next year to see wireless become the main means of internet access for most people, Goldstuck said. In total 4,5-million people now have internet access in SA, up 12,5% from last year. That was the first time since 2001 that the market had seen double-digit growth, and a spurt of 13,5% is predicted for next year . About 8,4-million South Africans should have internet access by 2013, with the dramatic growth triggered by falling prices as managed liberalisation is swept away and more providers are able to offer more services.