There is a tremendous opportunity in Africa for Wireless Broadband. It has some of the the most important factors for success... "need", "demand", and "shortage of Options", "Alternatives not cost or technically feasible" You'd be amazed how much businesses will pay for Broadband out there. (I heard some stories 5-6 year backs where people were paying DS3 prices for like ISDN-T1 speeds) However, conducting business in Africa is much much different. One has to know what they are doing politically. Much easier for someone that knows and understands the local culture.
I had a couple friends that did both PC exporting and Broadband there. He made a killing with PCs, not sure the outcome of the Broadband venture, to date. But, yeah... It was All Cash Business, if you wanted to get paid, and it wasn't uncommon to have to pay bribes to conduct business. Lots of custom issues/tricks, to get gear to over their cost effectively. But hey, Africa is a large diverse place, just like anywhere, it probably isn't fair to make generalizations and group everything in the same box. Jungle, desert, big cities, all have different challenges. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Broadwick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'WISPA General List'" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 4:06 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] your thoughts on opps in Africa? >I have a good sized customer in Africa. Their network has been built > steadily over time, and I've met the principle on several occasions. > We've > done lots of smaller projects, but always on a cash basis. > > Jeff > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Tom Sharples > Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 4:57 PM > To: WISPA General List > Subject: Re: [WISPA] your thoughts on opps in Africa? > > Exactly the same experience here. Lots of talk, long-winded network > design, > layout, and bidding process with numerous tweaks and revisions, and > ultimately .... nothing. Complete waste of time for us, but I don't see > what > they get out of it either (?) > > Tom Sharples > President > Qorvus Systems, Inc. > www.qorvus.com > 800.757.1571 Ext 100 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Rogelio" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> > Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 11:19 AM > Subject: [WISPA] your thoughts on opps in Africa? > > >> Is it just me, or do African wireless opportunities rarely materialize? >> >> I've been involved in tons and tons of "big" ($10+M, in theory) projects >> where all sorts of big numbers are thrown out, but for whatever reason, >> someone never ultimately pulls the trigger. >> >> (Not sure what I'm missing, but this seems to be a running theme with >> African projects I've ever gotten pulled in on.) >> >> >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---- >> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >> http://signup.wispa.org/ >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---- >> >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >> >> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
