Who needs the Internet

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
09/10/2009 17:06

A SOUTH African carrier pigeon has transported data faster than sending it via the country's internet network.

Internet speed and connectivity in Africa's largest economy are poor because of a bandwidth shortage. It is also expensive.

Local news agency SAPA reported the 11-month-old pigeon, Winston, took one hour and eight minutes to fly the 80km from IT company Unlimited IT's offices near Pietermaritzburg to the coastal city of Durban with a data card was strapped to his leg.

Including downloading, the transfer took two hours, six minutes and 57 seconds -- the time it took for only 4 per cent of the data to be transferred using a Telkom line.

SAPA said Unlimited IT performed the stunt after becoming frustrated with slow internet transmission times.

The company has 11 call-centres around the country and regularly sends data to its other branches.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
09/10/2009 17:08

Telkom, the country's leading internet service provider, could not immediately be reached for comment.



Internet speed is expected to improve once a new 17,000km underwater fibre-optic cable linking southern and East Africa to other networks becomes operational before South Africa hosts the soccer World Cup next year.