Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      Solly Malatsi seeks out-of-court deal in TV migration fight

      15 July 2025

      South Africa’s telcos battle to monetise 5G as 4G suffices for most

      15 July 2025

      Major new electric car brand launching in South Africa

      15 July 2025

      MTN empowerment investors see ‘modest’ return as Zakhele Futhi winds up

      15 July 2025

      Eskom wants your solar system registered – but what does that actually mean?

      15 July 2025
    • World

      Grok 4 arrives with bold claims and fresh controversy

      10 July 2025

      Samsung’s bet on folding phones faces major test

      10 July 2025

      Bitcoin pushes higher into record territory

      10 July 2025

      OpenAI to launch web browser in direct challenge to Google Chrome

      10 July 2025

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025
    • In-depth

      The 1940s visionary who imagined the Information Age

      14 July 2025

      MultiChoice is working on a wholesale overhaul of DStv

      10 July 2025

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | MVNX on the opportunities in South Africa’s booming MVNO market

      11 July 2025

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025

      TCS+ | First Distribution on the latest and greatest cloud technologies

      27 June 2025
    • Opinion

      A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

      15 July 2025

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Juanita Clark » Not all fibre is equal

    Not all fibre is equal

    By Editor6 June 2011
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp

    [By Juanita Clark]

    News that the City of Tshwane is planning to publish new bylaws to facilitate and regulate the laying of fibre-optic cables is good news. They need to be published as soon as possible and one hopes the rest of the country follows suit — all local authorities ought to adopt these bylaws.

    Municipalities have a responsibility to commuters and pedestrians and we understand they need to protect their citizens against injury or accidents resulting from fibre deployments, but what is encouraging is that Tshwane is not trying to inhibit the roll-out of fibre. Rather, it has come up with proactive plans to allow trenching to proceed as fast as possible while putting measures in place to protect their assets as well as commuters and pedestrians. It’s a win-win for all.

    Ensuring minimum standards are used for the building of infrastructure will guarantee the playing fields are level and that substandard deployments do not take place.

    Not all fibre is equal and we have witnessed many substandard build projects where speed is the most critical component and quality comes last. The lifespan of fibre is at least 15 years. However, the quality of installation is imperative to ensure its lifecycle is maximised.

    Most companies adopt standards for deployment, but they then outsource the actual civil construction work. Installers and civils contractors ought to be certified fibre installers and meet minimum standards and best practice frameworks. This is the only way property management companies will know that when they allow fibre-civils companies into their business parks that these companies and workers are certified and equipped to do the job.

    It’s great that Tshwane is developing these bylaws, and we hope local authorities follow suit, but it’s still important for the department of communication and the Independent Communications Authority of SA to consider regulating the industry at national level. It is important that:

    — They consult with the private sector on where and how they can partner in delivering broadband to communities, especially since private capital has shown a willingness to support government.

    — They come up with rules and regulation in consultation with industry, and not in isolation.

    It’s also important to understand where all levels of government will be playing. There are so many disparate strategies that are being announced, and all local authorities, provincial authorities and now national government are announcing their own plans. Are they talking to each other and driving a complementary strategy or are we facing duplication on a massive scale?

    This is a capital-intensive business — public-private partnerships could support government in its aims of taking broadband to all communities faster and more cost effectively. Through thorough consultation government can help SA leap frog the rest of the world, and that is important since broadband penetration is internationally treated as a key economic indicator.

    • Juanita Clark is CEO of FTTH Council Africa
    • Subscribe to our free daily newsletter
    • Follow us on Twitter or on Facebook


    FTTH Council Africa Juanita Clark
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleHTC Flyer: the TechCentral review
    Next Article Newsprint has a future – Google exec

    Related Posts

    Huawei launches next-gen fibre-to-the-room solution

    7 July 2025

    Ramaphosa promises tech-led reform agenda

    19 July 2024

    DCA, Huawei and WBBA host Africa Fibre Forum 2023

    30 November 2023
    Company News

    Mental wellness at scale: how Mac fuels October Health’s mission

    15 July 2025

    Banking on LEO: Q-KON transforms financial services connectivity

    14 July 2025

    The future of business calling: Voys brings your landline to the cloud

    14 July 2025
    Opinion

    A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

    15 July 2025

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.