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Business News of Tuesday, 4 June 2002

Source: albion p. kojo mends jr.

Kooconsult Launches Public Internet Access Booths Service

As part of its NETTSTREAM Internet Access Service, Kooconsult has launcehd a Public Internet Access Booth Service called NETTKIOSK.

The service which would be made available through franchises in all African countries , has taken off in Cape Coast, Ghana. Internet connectivity to th Internet Access Booths is via NETTSTREAM'S Broadband Wireless Network Infrastructure. NETTKIOSK is billed to becomethe internet version of public payphones with users purchasing prepaid cards to browse onthe terminals. rates are about US$1 per hour, and cards purcahsed in one country can be used on NETKIOSKs in other countries.

Franchises are provided on a per city or town basis, and all that the franchissee does is to purchase at least fifty Internet Access Booths, each costing US FOB. The franchisee must also obtain a permit and pay local taxes, duties and permit fees, to enable kooconsult construct a wireless broadband network, and to install the Satellite Terminal to provide two way internet connectivity. Kooconsult plans to deploy at least 2,000 booths by the fourth quarter of 2003. With the average netdensity in Africa being 1 to 200, there is plenty of potential for expansion. As part of thee overall plan, Kooconsult is working on co-locating a revolutionary broadband satellite internet hub at two international teleports, to provide connectivity to the remote satellite terminals. The NETTSTREAM infrasturcture would also support Kooconsult, Mobile Internet Service.

KOOCONSULT INITIATES AFRICAN EXPANSION PROGRAMME

Kooconsult has initiated action towards the expansion of its NETTSTREAM Service to other African Countries, as part of its Global Strategy. It is inviting companies in other African countries to submit Letters of Interest to become NETTSTREAM Country Resellers. Resellers would be required to have a valid ISP licence, VSAT licence, and Wireless Network Operational Licence. They would also be required to set up an initial NETTSTREAM Public Internet Room, of at least fifty computers. Kooconsult, is providing the needed E-infrastructure in the various countries.

E-INFRASTRUCTURE FIBRE BACKBONE DEPLOYMENT TO START IN SEPT 2002

Kooconsult intends to start deployment of fibre backbone for its E-Infrastructure, using Non dispersion fibre, with capacities of 10Gbps. The backbone would be dedicated internet protocol based, and be an Optical Transport System, fully protected ring. The configuration would consist of Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers that would connect to wireless Local Area Network Infrastructure, for its NETTSTREAM mobile/roaming service.

KOOCONSULT'S INTERNET CONTENT CENTRE TO BE READY BY FOURTH QUARTER 2002

Kooconsult is working on setting up an INTERNET CONTENT CENTRE. The centre would house computer equipment for content hosting and management. A location close to the regeneration and landing site forthe West African Submarine Cable in Ghana, has been selected. It is envisaged that OC48 fibre would be terminated in the facility. KOOCONSULT also intends to have a teleport, using SAMA technology at this location, to provide two way broadband internet connectivity to remote VSAT sites, used for its NETSTREAM service.