The City of Cape Town has approved the installation of fibre-optic cables in the municipality’s sewerage and storm water pipes.

The city said in a statement that fibre specialist Link Africa has been granted permission to proceed with the installation of fibre cables in the municipality’s pipes.

“The granting of the long-term rights will contribute to the accelerated roll-out of telecommunications infrastructure that is essential for economic development in Cape Town,” said mayoral committee member for corporate services and compliance Xanthea Limberg.

“The draft agreement brokered between the two parties protects the city’s rights as the owner of the infrastructure and will ensure that the city is indemnified in the event of Link Africa’s fibre-optic cabling being damaged or claims arising by third parties,” the statement said.

Link Africa will have to meet certain conditions to use the sewer system.

Firstly, fees for access will be set at a market-related rate that will escalate after three years if no council tariff is set before then. The agreement will have to comply with any statutory requirements. And municipal services will be protected at all times and no buildings or permanent structures may be constructed over the municipal services.

In addition, any alterations to municipal services will be carried out at Link Africa’s own cost and the infrastructure is to be made available (on an open-access basis) to all electronic communication service licence holders, the city said.

“During the public participation process, a concern was raised about a possible increase in blockages in these municipal pipes. However, an investigation by the city’s engineering department and an independent consulting engineer concluded that the risk was within a tolerance level that was acceptable to the city,” it said.

“The proposed agreement ensures that the city will be able to fulfil its obligation to deliver municipal services should a blockage occur.”