The main advantage of EDGE is the fact that it can operate from GPRS towers, which cover a great deal of SA's surface area. 3G, on the other hand, needs an entirely different tower -- which is why coverage is currently only 0.2 percent of the total GSM coverage in SA.

'The problem is not with the device, but with the speed between the towers,' says Duxbury. SA's infrastructure and socio-economic situation is also a major impediment for the expansion of this technology in the country, he says. The number of people in rural areas, for example, who can only communicate via cell phone, versus the number of laptop owners, explains why the marketing of this type of technology is not driven more vigorously.

'It is going to take time for people to adapt. There needs to be a paradigm shift,' Duxbury says. He predicts that this will happen in two years time. In essence it is up to the cell phone operators, he adds. Companies like Duxbury may educate people, but successful implementation will eventually depend on a partnership with the SPs. 'To me that is the obvious move,' he adds.

When it happens we may expect tremendous benefits for the rural areas, since the need for fixed lines will be a thing of the past, he adds. Telkom -- and ISP costs -- as well as per minute billing, will fall away, as payment is only made per MB of data, irrespective of the time spent online.