iBurst

Wireless Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd, operating under the brand name iBurst, was a mobile network operator providing wireless broadband services across South Africa. Identified by its Mobile Network Code (MNC) of 74 under the Mobile Country Code (MCC) 655, iBurst aimed to deliver alternative internet connectivity solutions, particularly targeting areas where traditional fixed-line infrastructure was limited. Although iBurst eventually ceased its own network operations, it highlights the diverse landscape of telecommunications in South Africa, a nation striving to improve its digital infrastructure across its vast geography. Historically, iBurst competed with other major South African mobile networks like Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and Telkom Mobile. iBurst initially utilized Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) technology in the 1800 MHz band, offering a different approach to wireless broadband compared to the more prevalent GSM-based networks. While iBurst aimed to bridge the digital divide and offer competitive data packages, various factors, including technological advancements in competing technologies like LTE, and increasing competition, contributed to its eventual decline and transition away from direct network operation to a licensing model. Its legacy, however, is important in understanding the evolution of South Africa's mobile communication market.