VoIP in South Africa
by Leon Coetzee

Voice communication over the Internet will definitely be the largest growing technology application in the South African business sector in 2005. According to a survey by World Wide Worx (www.theworx.biz), an estimated 80% of South African corporations will be using this technology by the end of 2005.

What is VoIP?

VoIP is an abbreviation for Voice over Internet Protocol. A normal Internet connection is utilised for the transmission of voice, much like a telephone call. In other words VoIP can turn any desktop or laptop connected to the Internet into a telephone.

Is VoIP available to everyone?

Up until the 1st of February 2005, VoIP in South Africa could legally only be used within an organisation's own network. In September 2004, Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburri announced the deregulation of the telecommunications industry, legalising the use of VoIP by all telephone communications.

Who offers VoIP in SA?

We've named only a few as it is certain that more service providers will pop up during the course of this year:

● DrayTek - http://www.draytek.co.za
● Wireless Dimensions - http://www.wd.co.za (resellers)
● OpenVOICE - http://www.openvoice.co.za
● Internet Solutions - http://www.is.co.za
● UUNET - http://www.uunet.co.za
● Telkom – http://www.telkom.co.za
● @lantic – http://www.lantic.net

Can this technology be implemented in an Intranet system?

The possibilities are endless when it comes to VoIP. For example Intranet systems supporting Call Centre environments can enable phone call recording and logging of queries and complaints.

What are the benefits of VoIP?

Cost Savings. Since only an Internet connection is needed, normal dial-up users will be able to make long distance, cellular, or even international calls at the price of a normal local call. The cost saving benefit is obviously one of the biggest drivers for the development of this technology.

Convenience

VoIP Calls can be routed to your personal laptop using a wireless connection while you are out of the office. VoIP is the way of the future and will become standard practice in today's business world.

What are the pitfalls?

VoIP is mostly meant for use over broadband connections. Normal dial-up users may not be able to utilise this service to the full.

How expensive is VoIP?

As with all things in life, nothing is free! The main requirement for VoIP is a VoIP service provider. Service provider fees will depend on the individual service provider, but the prices will be reasonable, because of the rising competition taking the market by storm.

The future of VoIP?

In future mobile networks will benefit the most from VoIP technologies. Private users will mostly be exposed to VoIP through these networks.

Computers aren't the only devices able to make use of VoIP, in fact special VoIP phones are available ,which look and work no different to normal phones ,except that they use modems and VoIP.

VoIP will mostly only be used by the business sector, but private application for residential use will be explored and developed further in the near future.

Will it contribute to the bottom line of my business?

Besides the cost savings benefit, business communication can be managed much more effectively. Communication can be customised and systems can be integrated with VoIP, which means complete control over all phone calls in and out of the business.

Conclusion

VoIP has been introduced to other countries with great success and will most definitely revolutionise telecommunications in South Africa in future.

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