POSTS & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The Swaziland Posts and
Telecommunications Corporation
was established in 1986 under Act
No. 11 of 1983, which regulates all its
activities. The parent Ministry of
Information and Communications
Technology is currently working on a bill
intended to establish an independent
regulator which, among other
developments, is likely to result in the
separation of the postal and telecoms
operations.
SwaziPost: provides a variety of products
and services through modern technology
with emphasis on customer satisfaction for
distribution, retail, financial and
communications services. It comprises a
strong network infrastructure of 34 Post
Offices and 23 Postal Agencies throughout
the country, where services such as money
transfer (money and postal orders),
telegraphic transfer, Internet cafes,
stationery, photocopying/fax and telephone
bureau services are offered. SwaziPost also
provides agency services for a number of
organisations as a payment centre for utility
bills, school fees, telecommunications and
cell phone products and pension grants.
SwaziPost has been working with
government on the payment of elderly grants
since inception of the scheme.
In a continued effort to stay in line with
competition in the courier industry,
Phutfumani Couriers provides courier, freight
and customs clearance for local and
international destinations.
SwaziTelecom: As the lines between
different types of services become more
indistinct, ICT regulators face a major
challenge in trying to minimize market
distortions arising from the different
regulatory treatments of various
technologies. In order for markets to
flourish, operators need to adopt the most
effective and advantageous technologies so
that consumers receive the best deal in terms
of price and service quality.
SwaziTelecom provides quality international
telecommunication services, both voice and
data, to all global destinations. Although
there is direct dialing to over 200 countries,
the Corporation operates a 24-hour operator
assisted call centre service.
During 2008 SPTC introduced ADSL
(Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
Broadband. This is a high speed, ‘always
on’ internet access service that utilises
existing copper line to send and receive data
at speeds that surpass conventional dial-up
connection. Its introduction has brought new
era Internet into the economy: the nation is
experiencing high speed service and more is
to come. ADSL broadband is not a leased
line, which is a dedicated line that hosts
services: it provides shared bandwidth
among all users in the network. Apart from
speed, it offers high performance at low cost
and is suitable for small to medium
companies, as well as home use.
To obtain ADSL broadband, there must be
an existing post-paid telephone copper line
infrastructure that is connected to and
within five km of an ADSL-enabled
exchange. The computer used must meet
certain minimum requirements.
ADSL service transforms an analogue line
into a high speed multi-tasking point with
several computers able to access the
Internet at once. It can simultaneously be
connected to the Internet and still make and
receive calls. Connection is continuous at a
flat monthly rate with no need to dial.
Monthly consumption may be checked by
logging onto portal.swazi.net.
ADSL broadband is also provided by
Internet service providers that sell on to
customers, who must apply for access circuit
from SwaziTelecom and obtain Internet
access from the ISP. Internet Services are
charged at local call rates throughout the
country. There are five points of presence
(PoP’s) located in the major cities and
towns.
Another range of products and services is
based on “wired and unwired” networks,
including customer premises equipment
(PABX) to provide users with flexible and
customised communication solutions.
Other products are Integrated Services
Digital Networks (ISDN), Managed Data
Services and Video Conferencing. Value
Added Services include call barring, threeparty
conferencing, and toll free services.
SwaziTelecom is committed to providing
modern telecommunication services
throughout Swaziland, including less
developed areas, and contributes
significantly to the economy by providing
employment, attachment for students at
tertiary institutions and by participating in
and sponsoring social events. The Next
Generation Network (NGN) currently being
rolled out is poised to change the
communications landscape of Swaziland,
by bringing on stream products and services
that are currently not available.
Real Image Internet
Real Image is the fastest growing
independent Internet Service Provider (ISP)
in Swaziland and offers Internet services,
web publishing, e-commerce solutions,
hosting and networking services, plus a full
range of computer-related services, including
hardware, software retail
and training.
Formed in 1995, it was the first company
to introduce full Internet access to the
kingdom and currently hosts and maintains
Swaziland’s Internal Portal www.swazi.com.
The site is the prime source of information
on Swaziland with over one million hits a
month. Real Image has designed and hosts
over 75% of all web sites in Swaziland that
market and provides information on local
businesses, tourism, traditions and culture
through sites such as www.swazibusiness.com
and www.swaziplace.com.
The Web hosting and business solutions
department has the expertise to maximise
and develop clients’ online presence,
enabling them to choose the option that
will best suit their connectivity requirements
and budget.
In 2002, Real Image commissioned its state
of the art Digital Infrastructure to become
the first ISP in Swaziland to provide 56k
Dial Up and 64k/128k ISDN services. In
2008 with the arrival of ADSL technology
in the country, RI introduced, Real
Broadband, a family of new Broadband
products. It uses ADSL (Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line) technology, which is a high speed Internet access service using existing
copper telephone lines to send and receive
data at speeds that far exceed conventional
dialup modems. The ADSL technology also
allows one to talk on the telephone and surf
the Internet using one line. Real Broadband
enables clients to choose their preferred ADSL
connection speed option and base cap level
that best suits their needs and budget.
In an effort to give unmatched quality service,
Real Image is the only ISP with anti-spam
and anti-virus filtering set on the local and
upstream provider network to protect its clients
from unwanted spam mail and viruses. It also
provides Real Image accelerator.
Real Image runs and maintains successful
Internet Cafes and computer retail outlets
throughout Swaziland and guarantees
corporate and home user focused solutions.
Its sustained growth and leading market
position is attributed to its ongoing quest for
customer satisfaction, continued innovation
and human resource skills.
THE CELLULAR NETWORK
There is only one cellular/mobile
telephone service provider in
Swaziland, and a 10-year
monopoly, which was expected to end in
2008 was extended. Thus at present, this
sector is not open to other providers.
About 90% of the country has cellular
coverage.
THE MEDIA
The standard and range of media
services in Swaziland enables
even people in the most remote
rural areas to have access to information.
English and siSwati newspapers are
circulated daily while the governmentowned
television and radio stations
provide coverage throughout the country.
Television
The local television station is run on a
commercial basis by the government-owned
Swaziland Television Authority. The station
may be augmented by installing equipment
that provides access to South African TV
channels and DSTV provides access to
international programmes transmitted by
satellite through Multichoice Swaziland.
Radio
Swaziland’s radio station is part of the
government-run Broadcasting and
Information Services department and
operates from a head office and studio in
Mbabane.
The station was established in 1966 and
operates on a semi-commercial basis. This
is the most wide-reaching medium as about
95% of the population owns or has access
to a radio. Programs that cover a diversity
of topics are broadcast throughout the day
on two channels in English and siSwati. The
information section provides material to
other media houses and is responsible for
issuing news items to diplomatic missions
outside the country via the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Press
Several newspapers circulate in Swaziland,
including two dailies. The oldest of these,
established in 1897, is the privately owned
Times of Swaziland which publishes daily
and weekend editions. The Observer Group,
which is owned by Tibiyo Taka Ngwane,
produces the daily Swazi Observer and
Weekend Observer newspapers.
Magazines
Periodicals published in Swaziland include
a monthly news magazine The Nation, and
various general and special interest journals
and books. Other privately owned media
include publications geared to tourism.