How Africa Will 'Leapfrog' Wired Networks

umarkalim writes "In an interview with Al Jazeera, Les Cottrell at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory explains how Africa will actually 'leapfrog' the need to install hard-wired cables. He says it's often overlooked that the continent is huge and that the countries are diverse. He says, 'the cost of the infrastructure is quite high, especially if you have to connect every home with copper cables and fiber-optic cables ... I think in many cases Africa will actually "leapfrog" the need to install hard-wired cables everywhere, and will be able to use different techniques such as the BRCK modem, the low-earth orbiting satellites or the 3G solutions to get connectivity to where they need.'"

Re:Wireless sucks

[Anonymous Coward]

Wired will always be superior to wireless. Wireless is what you use when you don't have access to wired internet. With wireless you're sharing your bandwidth with everyone and their brother. With wired, you have a dedicated pipe right to your computer. I suspect that in Africa they will be deploying wireless due to the fact they don't have the infrastructure to do anything better.

Re:Wireless sucks

[demonlapin]

They don't, but it's interesting how good they can make wireless. Went on safari in Kenya and Tanzania last year. I had cell signal everywhere and 3G almost everywhere. I was on big roads, of course, but service really was impressive.

Missing wires

[Tekoneiric]

They are leapfrogging wired because every time they lay down wires it gets stolen and sold on the black market. The news was talking about that years ago. It's forcing them to use wireless.

Re:I guess they don't take any history classes

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm glad that the amount you care is above minimum (I believe the phrase you are too ignorant to quote is "coundn't care less"). To address your ignorance further:
* The commercials for African charities are not representative of an entire fucking continent.
* Telegraph came before radio (which was initially called "wireless telegraph") and what the hell does itunes have to do with wireless vs wired?

Are you 10 years old? What idiot modded you up?