Telkom’s Internet service provider, Telkom Internet, will offer eligible customers who participate in trials of its next-generation broadband network a free very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) modem.
The pilot will test 20Mbit/s and 40Mbit/s speeds in selected areas in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Telkom has deployed the new network, offering speeds over copper of up to 40Mbit/s, in Benmore Gardens, Fourways and Waterkloof in Gauteng; Durban North in KwaZulu-Natal and Durbanville in the Western Cape.
Telkom Internet customers in the applicable areas who currently have 4Mbit/s and 10Mbit/s broadband connections may qualify to participate in the pilot. Interested users must volunteer and sign an agreement with the service provider.
Users will not be charged for the trial. Telkom Internet says the VDSL router will not have to be returned to the company when it concludes its technical trial. However, they will be returned to their existing speeds when the trial ends at the end of January 2013.
Although the pilot was originally meant to be limited to Telkom Internet customers, pressure from the Internet Service Providers’ Association resulted in Telkom opening it up to MWeb, Internet Solutions, Web Africa and Cybersmart.
Earlier this week, Telkom’s mobile arm, 8ta, said that it will switch on a trial fourth-generation long-term evolution mobile broadband network on 1 November and said it will invite selected customers in Gauteng to apply to participate for free in the trial, which will run until 31 March 2013.
