Today Cell C launched it's HSPA+ network in Johannesburg and Pretoria

Attended the Cell C's tasty (the food and pastries were awesome) launch of their HSPA+ 900/2100 network in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Cell C's HSPA+ network will service the needs of the broader South African market, with some customers paying as little as R0.03c per MB for data with data speeds between 4 to 7 Mbps.

Cell C's network will cover 62% of South Africa's population in Johannesburg and Pretoria, with an intent to add 20% coverage to that by 2011.

At the same time, Lars P. Reichelt, CEO of Cell C and Rajeev Suri, CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks, opened up Cell C's HSPA+ network nationwide for all existing Cell C customers. Details as to which handsets and devices support the new network can be found on Cell C’s website.

Sales of Cell C's speedsticks, contract packages and new data bundles will start on Friday, 19th of November and will be available from 28 Cell C outlets in Johannesburg & Pretoria, as well as Game, Makro and Dion Wired, Autopage, Nashua Mobile and selected CNA stores. Products are also available at these outlets in other cities where Cell C has launched its new network.

“Now that our network is live in Johannesburg and Pretoria, we are well on our way to reach our target of 34% population coverage in South Africa by the end of 2010,” added Reichelt. “We are fully committed to providing affordable and fast internet access to all South Africans, whether they live in a city or a rural environment. We are working around the clock to cover 97% of South Africa’s population with HSPA+ 900/2100 by the end of 2011.”

“This network infrastructure brings with it a myriad of development possibilities and represents the first real opportunity for a much larger subset of South Africans to harvest the potential of the internet, as a source of information, to grow a business, to offer a service, to further their careers or simply to communicate with friends and loved ones.”

As part of its Johannesburg and Pretoria launches, Cell C also donated internet connectivity to two local schools. Immaculata Secondary School in Soweto and Mamelodi Secondary School in Mamelodi each received a modem, 60GB data bundle and wireless router to allow multiple users connectivity at the same time.