Samsung will also collaborate with a black empowerment internet service provider in an attempt to deploy the services in rural areas. However, the company would not reveal the name of the partner or the costs of deploying the service.

Hung Song, Samsung's vice-president for global marketing, said South Africa would be the second country after South Korea to launch wireless broadband technology that allowed access to high-quality voice, data and video signals, even while travelling at 120km/hour. Hung said the government welcoms the service and is eager to roll it out in poorly serviced rural areas.

"The department of communications has recognised how important this is and was looking for various options (to make the service available)," he said.

"We are expecting it to come soon, but how soon, we don't know…that will depend on the regulator," Hung said.

Samsung will have to apply to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa for a frequency license. Telkom already has a frequency license for WiMAX and has started trials of the technology. Internet service providers see WiMAX and other wireless technologies as a way of building their own networks, without relying on Telkom.

Source: Business Report -  WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News